MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2010 2nd Extraordinary Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Kirby, Baria, Burton, Butler, Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Dearing, Fillingane, Hyde-Smith, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), King, Lee (35th), Montgomery, Simmons, Stone, Ward, Watson, Yancey

Senate Concurrent Resolution 504

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MOURNING THE LOSS AND COMMENDING THE LEGACY OF PUBLIC SERVICE OF RETIRED CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE MISSISSIPPI SUPREME COURT DAN M. LEE OF BRANDON, MISSISSIPPI.

     WHEREAS, colleagues and family remember retired Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Dan M. Lee as a man of character and compassion.  Judge Lee, 84, passed away on May 9, 2010; and

     WHEREAS, "Dan was a people's judge," recalled former Justice Jimmie Robertson.  "He greatly believed that a man should have his day in court.  Lee brought human qualities to the bench and the law that not everybody brings"; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Lee was known for his warm demeanor and readiness to help others.  He was born in Forrest County in 1926 to Buford Aaron Lee, Sr., and Pherbia Anna Camp Lee, one of seven children; and

     WHEREAS, he served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946 during World War II.  Each of his five brothers also served in the United States Military in World War II or in the Korean Conflict.  Judge Lee was a pilot, a passion that first ignited when he served on the aircraft carrier, the USS Princeton.  He owned and piloted his own plane for many years; and

     WHEREAS, Lee began practicing law a few years after returning from World War II.  After years of private practice, Judge Lee served on the Mississippi Oil and Gas Board as well as the Interstate Oil Compact Commission before becoming a Hinds County Judge, first on the County Court, and then on the Circuit Court; and

     WHEREAS, Judge Lee served on the State Supreme Court from 1982 to 1998.  After leaving the bench, he successfully pushed for proper legal representation for those on death row.  He felt service on the Supreme Court should be something at the end of a legal career so you are not "beholden" to anyone and Judge Lee was beholden to no one; and

     WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife of 54 years, Mary Alice Gray Lee; son, Daniel McKinnon Lee, Jr., and wife, Kathy; daughter, Sheron Lee Anderson, and husband, Charles (Mike); five grandchildren, Peggy Smith, Charles W. Anderson IV, Faith Tucker, Matthew Lee and Michael Lee; eight great-grandchildren; two brothers, Billy Howell Lee and James Phillip Lee; sister, Shirley Hegwood Polk Lee; and numerous nieces and nephews; and

     WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of a true Mississippi public servant and World War II Veteran who leaves a legacy of fairness in our state court system:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby mourn the loss and commend the legacy of public service of Retired Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court and World War II Naval Aviator Dan M. Lee of Brandon, Mississippi, and extend our sympathy to his surviving family on his passing.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Justice Lee, forwarded to the Mississippi Supreme Court and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.