[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E131-E132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING ERIC PINELLAS AS A DISTINGUISHED LEADER IN CENTRAL FLORIDA FOR 
                          BLACK HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DARREN SOTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 17, 2023

  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Eric Pinellas was born and raised in 
Osceola County and graduated from Osceola High School in 1990. He went 
on to earn a degree from Georgia Military College and returned to 
Osceola County where he served as a behavior specialist with the Center 
for Drug-Free Living from 1995 to 1999. Mr. Pinellas knew his purpose 
was to impact our youth. He started his career with the Osceola County 
School District in 2000 as an educator and impactful coach.
  Mr. Pinellas has dedicated his life to serving the youth while 
employed at Osceola High School--23 years coaching football, 
weightlifting, and track and field. He has coached nine state champions 
in track and field, two in girls weightlifting, and has been a member 
of four state runner-up coaching staffs in football. Mr. Pinellas has 
also helped over 50 of his athletes earn athletic scholarships to 
various colleges and universities across the country. He realized our 
youth could use their athletic abilities to take them to places they 
have never been. He understood those talents can be used as leverage to 
succeed. Most recently, he was named head football coach at Osceola 
after 21 years as a dedicated assistant coach where he also holds the 
title of head boys and girls track coach.
  Mr. Pinellas' community involvement has also included volunteering 
with both youth football and youth track teams in the Osceola County 
community. These youth teams have been able to display their many 
talents at many national events across the United States. He is 
recognized as a strong pillar in the community. Mr. Pinellas has always 
felt it was his obligation to give back to his community in the same 
manner that he saw others do as he grew up in the city of Kissimmee. He 
lives by the motto ``one child at a time.''

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