DR. T.R. LEE, JR. PRESIDENT/CEO OF THE DALLAS POST TRIBUNE WILL BE DEARLY MISSED
Dr. Theodore Roosevelt Lee, Jr. was born on July 18, 1929 in Midway, Texas, Madisonville County to the parentage of the late Mr. Theodore R. Lee, Sr. and Mrs. Hazel Lee. He departed this earthly life on March 2, 2016.
Dr. Lee graduated from Lee High School in Midway, Texas. He received his Bachelors of Science from Jarvis Christian College, and was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served as a Sergeant. He also became a U.S. Army Honorary Lt. Colonel. After he was honorably discharged, he began working as a Substitute Teacher at H.S. Thompson Elementary School; Teacher at Julia C. Frazier Elementary School; Principal at Large at George W. Carter Elementary School; Principal at Albert Sidney Johnston Elementary School; Principal at Oliver W. Holmes Middle School; and Principal at Elisha M. Peace Elementary School. He also served as Deputy Assistant Superintendent of Schools for the Dallas Independent School District. He dedicated 40 years of service in the Dallas Independent School District.
Dr. Lee also was the first African American Associate Dean of Students at North Texas State University (now University of North Texas). He further served as an Instructor at Bishop College, Prairie View A&M University, Texas Southern University and Wiley College.
During his years of service as an educator, he earned his Masters in Education from North Texas State University in Denton, Texas, and obtained a Doctorate in Religion from Rialto College in Los Angeles, California. His advanced studies included New York University, New York, New York; Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas; and Texas Southern University, Houston Texas.
In 1962, Dr. Lee became an owner of The Dallas Post Tribune, an award winning weekly newspaper that serves the African American Community. Following his retirement from the Dallas Independent School District, he served as the Publisher, President and CEO of the Dallas Post Tribune.
Dr. Lee was a member of Marsalis Avenue Church of Christ in Dallas. He was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity as well as the Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity. He was a founding member of the Dallas Pan Hellenic Council. He also was a Life Member of the NAACP. Dr. Lee served on the Board of Directors for Jarvis Christian College; the Board of Directors for Southwestern Christian College; the Board of Directors of Dallas Big Brothers; the Board of Directors of the Dallas School Administrators; and the Board of Directors of the National Association of Secondary School Principals. He also was a Member of the Superintendents Leadership Council; the Texas Principals Secondary Association; and the National Teachers Association. He further served as a Past-President of the Jarvis Alumni Association.
Dr. Lee has been recognized by Who’s Who Among Outstanding Americans as well as Personalities of the South. His awards include the Big Brothers Silver Beaver Award in Scouting; an Appreciation Award Presented by the St. John Missionary Baptist Church; the Afro American Scholar Leader-Activist Award from the State of Texas; the Bank of America Leadership Award; the Lt. Colonel DISD ROTC Award; the YMCA Sustaining Member Award; the Texas Historical Commission Award; the Texas Publishers Association Leadership Award; a Certificate of Appreciation from the Legislative Black Caucus in Education; a State of Texas Certificate of Appreciation; an Alpha Kappa Alpha Certificate of Appreciation; the US Army Junior ROTC Certificate of Merit Award; the Presidential Citation, Alma Mater in Higher Education; Special Recognition from the City of Dallas; and an Award for Outstanding Achievement by the Midway Community. He was a Barrier Breaker Honoree from North Texas State University; received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Jarvis Christian College; and was inducted into the African American Education Archives and History Program Educators Hall of Fame. He has been recognized by the Southeast Dallas Business and Professional Women’s Club as a Dreammaker for Entrepreneurship. He was presented with the Outstanding Leadership Vision and Ability Education Award by the Theta Chapter of Theta Nu Sigma National Society.
In addition to his careers in education and newspaper publishing, he was a Cattle Rancher who also bred Race Horses. He was also known as the Mayor of Bristol Texas, where his cattle ranch was located. He enjoyed helping others, fishing, horseback riding, raising horses and cattle, gardening and reading. Most of all, he had a passion for and was devoted to helping the community and making a difference in the lives of others.
Dr. Lee lived by the following Premise:
Love of God
Love of Country
Love of Self
Love of Humanity
And The Will to Serve
Dr. Lee was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Minister Horace Lee. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mrs. Dorothy Lee; one brother, Melvin Lee of Terrell, Texas; two daughters Attorney and Vintner Theodora Rochelle Lee of Oakland, California and Dr. Theronica Bond (Atty. Gary Bond Jr.) of Dallas Texas; two grandchildren Gary Bond III, and Theodore L. Bond; The Dallas Post Tribune Family and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral Arrangements:
Wake – Friday, March 11, 2016
7:00PM – 9:00PM
Funeral – Saturday, March 12, 2016
11:00AM
Marsalis Ave Church of Christ
2431 S Marsalis Ave.
Dallas, TX 75216
214-941-2531
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to:
Dr. Theodore R. Lee, Jr. Scholarship –
UNCF 501 Elm
Suite 700
Dallas, TX 75202
