Geary H.S. burns in fire, community steps up to fundraise

The community is responding with a fundraiser days after the Geary High School gymnasium burned down, the host told News 9 on Monday. 

Former Technology Engineering Instructor Cody McPherson said he left his five-year-long teaching career at Geary High School four years ago. 

“This was my classroom,” he said gesturing at a photo of the burned building. 

He returned to Geary H.S. last weekend, but this time, as a volunteer firefighter with the Longdale Fire Department. 

“It was really heart-wrenching going in there as a firefighter – seeing that,” he recalled. “Seeing how far the fire had gotten by the time I’d gotten there was definitely heartbreaking.” 

The fire caused the roof of the gym to collapse, destroying the band room, the woodshop, and a classroom. 

“Geary band was huge and there was a ton of trophies and a ton of sheet music from all of the years,” McPherson said. “All the physical part of that history is gone, but the memories of it still live on.” 

Erin Martinez said her younger siblings are involved in the Geary band program, which is why she decided to hold a fundraiser. 

“I want to help them. I want to help them bring back memories that were attached to those instruments, and even if it’s a small amount that I raise, anything helps,” Martinez expressed. 

Martinez said she is offering photo shoots with half of the cost going directly to the band program. 

“My fundraiser is a $50 photoshoot for 10 photos back. I’m doing it to get more experience and to help raise money for the band because it’s a very special place in my heart,” she added. 

To learn more about Lunar Lens Photography’s fundraiser, click here. 

MORE COVERAGE:

Geary High School gymnasium fire devastates Geary, OK community

'There's a lot of history here:' Geary Public Schools Superintendent reflects on burned-down gymnasium