Howard Lee

Submitted by ryanteaguebeckwith on March 7, 2008 - 11:31am.
Tags:

Office District Status
Education Chairman Statewide Appointee
Party In Office Since Term Ends
Democrat 2003
Level of Government  
Boards and Commissions  
Date of Birth Birthplace Now Lives In
July 28, 1934 Lithonia, GA Chapel Hill, NC

Synopsis

Howard Lee was a political pioneer. In 1969, he was elected mayor of Chapel Hill, the first black mayor of a predominantly white city. He served until 1975, helping create the city's bus system. In 1976, he unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. From 1977 to 1981, he was secretary of theDepartment of Environment, Health and Natural Resources.He served in the state Senate from 1990 to 1994 and 1996 to 2002, and currently is chairman of the state Board of Education and a member of the N.C. Utilities Commission. In 2007, his name was floated as a potential U.S. Senate candidate.

Endorsements

Biography

Marital Status
Married
Spouse
Lillian Wesley Lee
Children
Angela Denise, Noel "Ricky," and Karin Alexis

Howard Lee is chairman of the state Board of Education, a member of the N.C. Utilities Commission and former mayor of Chapel Hill.

Early Life and Education 

Howard Nathaniel Lee was born a sharecropper's son on July 28, 1934 inLithonia, Ga.

He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Fort Valley State College (now University) in Fort Valley, Ga., in 1959.

He then earned a master's degree in social work from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1966.

Military Service

He served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1961. 

Professional Career

Lee worked as a probation officer in Savannah, Ga., from 1961 to 1964, and held various administrative positions at Duke University from 1966 to 76.

He was a visiting professor at N.C. Central University from 1966 to 1969, and an instructor at UNC from 1982 to 1984.

He also owns airport food concessions at Raleigh-Durham International Airport and in Columbus, Ohio, and two Dunkin' Donut stores in Durham.

In 1993, he was honored with the William Richardson Davie Award, and in 1999 received the General Alumni Association's Distinguished Service Medal from the University of North Carolina.

Political Career

On May 6, 1969, Lee was elected mayor of Chapel Hill, the first black mayor of a predominantly white southern city. He served until 1975, helping create the city's bus system.

In 1976, he sought the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor, losing to Jimmy Green.

From 1977 to 1981, he was secretary of the stateDepartment of Environment, Health and Natural Resources.

Lee served in the state Senate from 1990 to 1994 and 1996 to 2002, serving then as co-chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

His 2002 primary race against Carrboro MayorEllie Kinnaird was at the time Orange County's costliest election. Lee alone spent $320,894 and lost the race by 119 votes.

Lee then worked as Gov. Mike Easley's budget and education advisor in 2003. He currently is chairman of the N.C. Board of Education and a member of the N.C. Utilities Commission.

In 2007, his name was floated as a potential U.S. Senate candidate. In 2008, Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue named him to her transition team after complaints that it was not diverse.

Research and reporting by Brooke Cain and Ryan Teague Beckwith.

Occupation





Community Involvement:
Not specified.

Contact Info



Education

B.A. in sociology
Fort Valley State College
Graduated: 1959		 M.S.W. in social work
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Graduated: 1966

Military

Not specified.

Links










N&O Profile:




Lee's bio on NC Utilities Commission website




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