Gary A. Lee

Summary

Gary Alcide Lee (August 18, 1933 – October 12, 2022) was an American politician from New York. A Republican, he was noted for his service as a member of the New York State Assembly (1975–1978) and the United States House of Representatives (1979–1983).

Gary Alcide Lee
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 33rd district
In office
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1983
Preceded byWilliam F. Walsh
Succeeded byHenry J. Nowak
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 128th district
In office
January 1, 1975 – January 31, 1978
Preceded byConstance E. Cook
Succeeded byHugh S. MacNeil
Personal details
Born(1933-08-18)August 18, 1933
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
DiedOctober 12, 2022(2022-10-12) (aged 89)
Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Kathleen Ann O'Brian (m. 1958)
Maureen Elizabeth Peterson (m. 2006)
Children4
EducationColgate University (BA)
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1952–1956
RankPetty Officer Second Class

Early life edit

Lee was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Harold D. Lee and Margaret (Brewer) Lee.[1][2] He graduated from Northside High School in Corning, New York in 1951[3] and served in the United States Navy from 1952 until 1956, attaining the rank of petty officer second class.[4] He later served in the United States Naval Reserve, in which he attained the rank of lieutenant (junior grade).[5] Lee graduated from Colgate University in 1960 and later did graduate studies at Colgate and at Cornell University.[4] After college he worked as an educational administrator and consultant, including director of Cornell's financial aid, student loan and scholarship programs.[4]

Political career edit

A Republican, Lee served as a member of the Corning, New York city council in 1962.[4] From 1963 to 1967 he was a member of the town board in Dryden, New York, and he served as Dryden's town supervisor from 1967 to 1969.[4] From 1968 to 1974, Lee served in the Tompkins County Legislature.[4] From 1975 to 1978, Lee was a member of the New York State Assembly, sitting in the 181st and 182nd New York State Legislatures.[4]

Lee was elected to Congress in 1978 and represented New York's 33rd congressional district from January 3, 1979 until January 3, 1983.[4] He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-nomination in 1982, when re-districting created a primary contest with George Wortley in the 27th district, which Wortley won.[6]

Later life edit

After leaving Congress, Lee resided in Alexandria, Virginia, and was vice president of IC Industries.[4] He later relocated to Fort Myers, Florida, where he remained active in politics, including serving as chair of the Lee County Republican Party for ten years.[7] Lee died in Fort Myers, Florida, on October 12, 2022, at the age of 89.[3] He was cremated, with arrangements handled by the Neptune Society.[3]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Obituary, Harold D. Lee Sr". The Ithaca Journal. Ithaca, NY. May 8, 1978. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Obituary, Harold D. Lee Jr. "Sonny"". The Ithaca Journal. Ithaca, NY. February 26, 2001. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c "Obituary, Gary A. Lee". The Leader. Corning, NY. October 17, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Joint Committee on Printing, U.S. Congress (2005). Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 1433. ISBN 978-0-1607-3176-1 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ U.S. Navy (1984). Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Naval Reserve. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 125 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ Sherman, Tamar Asedo (September 29, 1982). "Gary A. Lee comes up a loser". The Ithaca Journal. Ithaca, NY. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Rathgeber, Bob (December 4, 2010). "Lee County GOP head gets another two years". The News-Press. Fort Myers, FL. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved October 17, 2020.

External links edit

New York State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 128th district

1975–1978
Succeeded by
Hugh S. MacNeil
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 33rd congressional district

1979–1983
Succeeded by