Winslow - A legendary teacher at Winslow High School has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Now the Winslow community plans on honoring him. Gary Osborn has dedicated his entire adult life to teaching chemistry. Most of it at Winslow High School where you won't find a more loved and respected teacher in the school's history.

Joan Pierce is the head of the science department at Winslow High School. She's been here since 1995 when she was hired by Gary Osborn. "He is a unique individual and does nothing but love teaching and loves kids," Pierce says...probably the best chemistry teacher I've ever worked with in my career."

A teacher who colleagues say would stop at nothing to get a chemistry concept across to his students. "He would dance. He had hula dances going on at times. Just incredible ways to get kids to learn and the influence that he's had on people is unbelievable," Pierce says.

Gary Osborn was also in great shape running 5-6 miles every day. When his colleagues heard he was sick they never thought it was as serious as it was. "We thought it was something less serious at first that we were going to deal with and he'd be here later in the year hopefully," Pierce says.

But the news was much more dire than they ever could have imagined. Gary Osbourn was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and given only 30 days to live.

Faculty and staff say Gary Osborn touched the lives of thousands of students over the course of 43 years. He was named Educator of the Year this past year and also had this wing of the school named in his honor.

News of Mr. Osborn's illness has hit this community hard. The sadness has stretched nationwide. Yet another example of just how many lives Gary Osborn has touched. "He was a one of a kind kind of guy," says Assistant Principal Terry Atwood. "I think he was an inspiration to other staff members here. That will only make them better to kind of carry on his legacy."

"He's been getting emails from students, past students from all over the country right now," Pierce says. "Just an unbelievable shock that we're losing an important part of Winslow High School's history."

The school has formed the Gary Osborn Scholarship. That will be given every year to a student that's pursuing a career in science.

Faculty and staff at Winslow High School have organized a motorcycle and bicycle ride in Gary Osborn's honor. That ride is scheduled for Saturday October 15th.

Bicycles will leave Winslow High School at 9:00 a.m. and motorcycles leave at 11:00.

All proceeds go to the Gary Osborn Scholarship Fund

For more information you can go to the schools website www.winslowk12.org

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