Chuck Gee was named to the prestigious Gallery of Legends for the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) several years ago, but the Hawaii travel leader had become a local legend many years before.

Members of the local and global travel industry remembered Gee fondly Tuesday as they reflected on his death Friday. The co-founder and longest-serving dean of the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Travel Industry Management (TIM) was 85.

Gee, who served as TIM dean from 1976 until his retirement in 1999, remained an integral part of the university community, where he served on the Board of Regents from 2009 to 2015. But his contributions to tourism extended well beyond academia and Hawaii.

His former student Joseph Toy, president and CEO of Hospitality Advisors LLC, recalls that Gee was an “icon in the industry in Hawaii and abroad.”

“Wherever PATA would have its board meetings, he was always sought after, honored and revered,” said Toy, who knew Gee for nearly four decades. “I was always amazed by how many people he knew wherever we went.”

In addition to his PATA award, Gee received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the president of Taiwan in 2011 for his contributions to Taiwan’s tourism industry. In March he was the first recipient of the Hawai‘i Lodging &Tourism Association (HLTA) Legacy Awards. He also received many other global tourism awards and honorary academic doctorates, and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin named him one of the 100 people who made a difference to Hawaii in the 20th century.

Mufi Hannemann, HLTA president and CEO, said he was working as director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism when first met Gee, who had big dreams for Hawaii.

“He wanted people to see us a major venue and to host big conventions. He was instrumental in bringing PATA’s international conference to Hawaii, where British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher gave the keynote speech,” Hannemann said. “We are where we are today because of him. Hawaii could never repay him for what he did in making us known throughout the world, especially the Pacific Rim.”

Hannemann said Gee was just as well known by travel executives and government officials as he was by the many students whose lives he improved.

“Chuck was legend in Hawaii’s tourism industry. An outstanding educator, he touched the lives of thousands in Hawaii and helped to shape tourism all around the world,” said Jennifer Chun, director of tourism research for the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

Johson Choi, president and CEO of the Hong Kong Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, China Hawaii Chamber of Commerce and Asia Pacific California Chamber of Commerce, said Gee was like a father to him.

“My heart is heavy with sadness, ” said Choi, who was a 1977 TIM school graduate and friend of Gee’s for nearly five decades. “He was always so kind and caring. He treated everyone high and low the same. He encouraged everyone to try. He didn’t want anyone to be afraid of failing.”

Lee-Ann Choy, a 1988 TIM school graduate and now lecturer, said Gee’s influence also extended to many foreign students who studied in Hawaii and returned home eager to “explore and dream” just as Gee taught them to do.

“He was an inspiration to so many people,” Choy said, adding that Gee also made a difference by establishing endowments to fund tourism research and scholarships.

Clyde Min, a former student who will give Gee’s eulogy, credits Gee with helping to shape a future that he could never have imagined for himself.

“I was a Hilo-born, Waimanalo-raised kid, and I ended up working in seven different countries before I retired,” said Minn, a 1969 TIM school graduate. “When I look back, I realize it was all possible because he challenged me to grow and he opened doors for me. He didn’t have family here, so the TIM school and its students were his family.”

Diamond Head Mortuary &Williams Funeral Serv­ices is handling the arrangements. A memorial and funeral service are pending.