Utah Governor. He was considered one of the most colorful politicians in Utah history. He was a fiscal conservative and was known to have a fiery temper. Although he came from a Mormon background, he was not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints himself. Despite this handicap, he was elected as Governor of Utah from 1948 to 1956 and Mayor of Salt Lake City from 1962 to 1974 as a Republican. After serving in the Army during World War I, he joined his father selling insurance and real estate.

In 1920, he married Nellie Pace. She died of Hodgkin's disease shortly after the birth of their daughter. In 1928, Lee re-married Margaret Draper from Wellington, Utah, and they were the parents of three more children.

In 1931, he ran for mayor of Price, Utah but was defeated. He ran again in 1935 and won by just two votes. He remained in that office for 12 years. Lee became Governor of Utah in 1948 after two previous and unsuccessful attempts in 1940 and 1944. As Governor, he was both colorful and controversial. He became nationally known for his fiscal conservatism and his opposition to income tax, foreign aid, and the United Nations. Although he was well respected for his integrity and economy, he also made many enemies among state educators because of his fiscal cuts to education.

Parents:

Arthur James Lee 1871 - 1934

Ida Mae Leiter Lee 1874 - 1980

Spouse:

Nellie Amelia Pace Lee 1900 - 1926

Children:

Helen Virginia Lee Nelson 1922 - 2005

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Originally Created by: Beeswax

Record added: Jan 19, 2005

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