BACK	Donn R. Colee, Jr.       Florida Inland Navigation District Commissioner for Palm Beach County

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Biographical Summary:     FIND Appointment Date: June 04, 2007

General Information:  Donn R. Colee Jr. is a seventh generation Floridian, raised in Orlando. 
He has lived in Palm Beach County since 1971. 

 

His ancestors settled in St. Johns County in the 1820s.  In 1881, Colee’s great- great- great-grandfather,
James Louis Colee, and three partners incorporated the Florida Coast Line Canal and Transportation
Company, the first company to successfully dredge what was to become the east coast Intracoastal
Waterway.  James was the firm’s engineer and surveyor.  In 1925 the company was sold to Lake Park
developer Harry Kelsey who subsequently sold it to the Florida Inland Navigation District.  Ownership
was then transferred to the Federal government. 

 

Educational Background:  Attended Orlando Junior College before joining the US Navy in 1966. 

 

Work Experiences:  Mr. Colee is currently Director of Research, Development and Strategic Planning
for Freedom Broadcasting, Inc., the company that owns the local CBS television affiliate, WPEC NEWS 12. 
He was previously Station Manager of WPEC and has been employed by the station since 1988.  Prior to
his broadcasting career he spent 17 years in the advertising and public relations business in West Palm Beach.

 

Interests:  Colee and his family enjoy boating and fishing in the inland waterways, Atlantic and the

Bahamas, as well as Boca Grande on the west coast. He is on the board of the West Palm Beach
Fishing Club and thetournament committee of the club’s KDW Classic.  He and his wife, Martha, have

a teenage son, Michael; and he has two grown daughters – Tara, who lives in Snowmass Village, CO,

and Justine, who lives in Miami.

 

Unique Story:  Colee may be the only person in recent history to walk the entire 45-mile coastline of
Palm Beach County -- TWICE.  The first time was in 1974 when his company created a beach walk to
gain publicity for a $50 million beach and park bond issue.  The second time was in 1985 when another
beach bond issue was on the ballot – this time for $75 million.  Through the bond issues, the public now

has access to miles of beaches and parks.

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