Gee Scott Sr.'s Journey Of Self-Determination From Washing Cars to Media Icon
Photos by Susan Fried
Recently, on The Day With Trae, host Trae Holiday welcomed Gee Scott Sr., one-half of Gee and Ursula on KIRO Radio, and the Seattle Seahawks' Game-Day Host. In this segment, Scott and Holiday delved into Scott's remarkable journey into the world of radio, reflecting on his experiences and pivotal moments that began 25 years ago when he first arrived in Seattle.
His initial foray into the city saw him working as a door-to-door salesman, marketing various items ranging from children's toys, electronics, books and calculators. Scott's adaptability shone through as he transitioned into car detailing, displaying an unwavering commitment to his craft, eventually leading to his radio career.
"I think a lot of us are determined. I think a lot of us are trying our best. I think so many of us work hard and do all of those things, and then it might not ever pay off," Scott said. "Sometimes the easiest thing that you want to do is quit. I used to quit all the time. I used to always quit. I spent my entire young adult life feeling defeated, feeling less than."
Scott's journey took a turn as his service became the gateway to a lasting relationship with the Seattle Seahawks.
"So, me going out to Kirkland, Washington, Northwest College, where the Seahawks practice. When I go there and say, 'Hey, I'll clean your guys' cars to show you what I can do,' I had no idea where that day would lead me," Scott said. " I'm just saying that to say that I think the only difference between myself and someone else is it was a little bit of luck and a little bit of favor."
For over a decade, Scott forged deep connections with players, initially sparked by his offer of complimentary car detailing. During this time, Scott built close friendships with numerous NFL athletes, notably during the illustrious era of the Legion of Boom. Bolstered by his natural charisma and relationships, Scott seamlessly transitioned into radio broadcasting.
"I got the opportunity to go over on the 710 side to KIRO radio to be able to share some of those stories because it was very unique," Scott said. "Not many people can have that inside view of what was going on with that team, and I think because of that, I was able to do that on the radio."
His talents caught the Seahawks' attention, and they recognized his charisma and energy on air. This recognition led to Scott being offered the position of game day host, which Scott has highlighted as both enjoyable and fulfilling.
"I'm a big fan first, and I think that's important. Because I'm a fan, I enjoy what I do. I show up early in the morning so if it's a 1:15 kick, I'm there at the stadium at eight o'clock in the morning. Rehearsals, all that kind of good stuff, the magic, and then the fans come in. They get to come in three hours before the game starts," Scott said. "It's more of a party, people eating and drinking and all the different things that's going on, and I'm telling you, "Hey, over here is great, and over here is fantastic." I would love to make it sound like I do a lot. I just have a lot of fun. It's just a structured amount of fun in one day."
As Scott's radio journey progressed, he began looking for a new frontier: reporting on local news in Seattle, something he now does alongside Ursula Reutin for Gee and Ursula.
"After a while of doing the sports, I decided that talking about sports every day, that's not really my thing. I would want to talk about what's going on in our community," Scott said. "So going over on the news side of things, talking about the homelessness crisis and drug crisis, and all of the different things that really impact us, these are the things that I wanted to talk about."
Scott emphasized the importance of his authentic radio style, embracing the simplicity of just being himself. Alongside him, Reutin, a seasoned veteran with 36 years of experience in news and media, brings a distinct sense of balance and professionalism to their partnership, creating a blend that captivates their audience.
"My style is I'm going to be me and Ursula, she's going to be the professional in the news, and she gets it right, and she crosses T's and dots I's, and that's needed," Scott said. "But we balance each other out so well in this beautiful ying and yang."
Gee and Ursula airs on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Tune in on weekdays from 9 am to 12 pm or download the app!
To hear more inspiring stories taking place in Seattle and beyond, tune in to Trae every weekday at 11 am on all Converge Media platforms and The Day With Trae YouTube Channel.
