An old farmer once told Scout Cloud Lee that she was one of the most courageous people he had ever known. As a cancer survivor and a carrier of the Olympic torch, Lee’s life is an inspiration. She is a keynote speaker, songwriter, reality TV star, and author of 14 books. Lee’s success stems from strong beliefs that come from an inner drive.
“You need to want what you want,” she said. “Believe in yourself and intend well. Hold your focus and stick with it long enough for it to manifest. Follow your passion; it was put there for a purpose.” She shares these virtues with everyone she meets – from fortune 500 companies to her students at East Central University.
Lee expresses her strong passion for today’s youth. This generation has captivated her heart. Before ECU, she taught at Oklahoma State University and the University of Illinois. A Florida native, Lee received her master’s and doctorate at the University of Georgia. She is currently an adjunct professor at ECU in Ada, Okla. Lee has lived in Oklahoma for 30 years and moved to Ada in August 2008 to assist her 91- year-old mother. She owns a ranch outside town and enjoys living in the small-town community. She teaches two courses at ECU. Her background as an administrator gave her the opportunity to teach Entrepreneurship and Team Building at the college.
For much of her career, Lee coached Fortune 500 companies. In the process she became affiliated with the Chickasaw Nation and became what she described as “their peak performance coach and team building leader”. She is the founder of Vision Us Inc. The company uses diverse training methods to teach personal growth and performance improvement.
The corporation became an immediate success and presented Lee a new concept called “High Games”. These games are designed to test endurance and build character. Contestants are required to camp for a week while participating in the games. She had no idea that her contest would gain notoriety and ultimately lead to being invited as a contestant on the most successful reality TV show on CBS. When “Survivor” aired on television for the first time, corporations from all over the country called Lee, suggesting that she watch the show. After studying “Survivor” for seven seasons, she sent in her application with an optimistic sense that she would excel on the show. She was picked out of 250,000 applicants. Her experience as a coach was evident on the show during the group challenges. Despite her third place finish, she claims her experience on the show was torture. “You had to forage for food,” she said. “We ate roots, leaves, and snails.” Her grit caught the attention from viewers everywhere. She was approached by a stranger at an automobile store. He asked Lee if she was on “Survivor” and she nodded. He told her she had more guts than common sense. There is no limit to Lee’s determination. She survived the deadly cancer Melanoma. When she received the news that she had two months to live, she was determined to survive. She said she “had to get right with her creator.”
Her next step was to record albums. She describes her genre as “gypsy rock/country funk”. It is similar to Oklahoma’s “red dirt”. She puts emphasis on positive lyrics and upbeat sounds. Lee had a lifelong dream of running in the Olympics, but a personal setback delayed the run for thirty years. Lee received a certified letter saying that she had been recommended to run in the 2001 Olympic torch relay. She has no idea who made the recommendation. She was one of fifty two people to run the torch across Oklahoma.
After a few decades of adventures and accolades, does Scout Lee have more to do? Her eyes are glazing blue as she tosses her blonde curls, “I think I’m in the prime of my life right now,” she said. “I feel like I’m just getting started.”
By Jeff Burnett
