QUINCY CITY COMMISSIONER ANDY GAY FOUND HIS CALLING WHILE ...

QUINCY CITY COMMISSIONER ANDY GAY FOUND HIS CALLING WHILE AT TCC

BY COURTENEY JONES PHOTO: COURTENEY JONES

Quincy native Andy Gay admits he took his time earning his associate degree from TCC--five years to be exact. He knew he wanted to work toward earning a college degree, but wasn't sure what he wanted to study.

"I was searching for what I wanted to do, like a lot of kids just out of high school," he said.

While attending TCC, Gay met Ricky Bell, the athletic director for Leon County. Bell asked Gay if he would volunteer to help coach junior varsity football at what was then Shanks High School in Quincy.

"That was something I felt a calling to do, coaching and being involved with children and athletes, and I thought, well, you can't do this unless you have a college degree," he said. "So then I had my motivation. Once you realize what your path is, things get a lot easier."

After earning his associate degree, Gay went on to Florida State University to earn his bachelor's in movement science and was then hired by Shanks, first as a physical education teacher and assistant football coach, and eventually as the athletic director and head football coach. After Shanks merged with Havana Northside High School in 2000 to become East Gadsden High, Gay stayed on as athletic director and in 2005 was made assistant principal of the school. Gay was also elected a Quincy city commissioner in 2005 and is now serving his fourth term, having been re-elected in April. In 2013, Gay left East Gadsden to become the director of school transportation for Gadsden County Schools.

Though Gay's role has shifted in his more than two decades working for the school system, his commitment to students has been constant.

"The athletic aspect was what drew me to working with the schools initially, but once you get in there and start developing relationships with the children and you get to see them become successful, see the light turn on for them, it's a satisfaction that you can't describe," he said.

Now, after more than a decade as a Quincy city commissioner, Gay can appreciate not only the role TCC played in his personal life, but also the work TCC is doing in Gadsden County through the Florida Public Safety Institute and the new TCC Gadsden Center.

"Just from a political side, I have been so appreciative of TCC's involvement in this community, and I think they're making a huge impact," he said. "I'm very proud to say I'm a TCC alumnus."

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