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Sheriff Harry Lee


Harry Lee was born in the back room of a Chinese laundry in downtown New Orleans. He lived in a single room with his mother, father, two older sisters, two younger sisters and a younger brother. The Lee family got out of the laundry business during World War II and opened a restaurant and bar. Typical of Chinese families, Harry's father required all the children to work and while attending grammar school, he was required to take a bus and work after school and all day Saturdays and Sundays. This tradition of hard work is the basis for Harry Lee's success. While in grade school, he was elected president of his class and president of the student body. In high school, he was the only person in the forty-year-history of Francis T. Nicholls to serve both as Senior Class President and Student Body President. When he graduates from high school, he received the American Legion Award as the outstanding male graduate. Harry Lee received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Louisiana State University. He was inducted into the Geology & Mining Society, an honor society for geology students, lettered in tennis and was designated an outstanding ROTC Cadet. After receiving his degree from LSU, Harry entered the Air Force and, as a Junior Officer in the Strategic Air Command was rated in the top two percent of Junior Officers in the entire Air Force. Returning home from the service, Harry's family opened the famous House of Lee Restaurant in the year 1959. Because of his leadership abilities, Harry was elected president of the New Orleans Chapter of the Louisiana Restaurant Association in 1964. His fellow restaurateurs credit his leadership for the peaceful integration of restaurants in New Orleans after the enactment of the Civil Rights Act in 1964. When his younger brother finished college, Harry told his father he would like to obtain a law degree. His father said, as long as he did his share of the work, what he did on his own time was "ok" with him. Working 72 hours a week managing the family restaurant, Harry received a Law degree, was elected President of the Loyola Student Bar Association and was inducted into the Blue Key National Honor Fraternity. After just a few years of law practice, Harry was the first United States Magistrate to be sworn in for the Eastern District of Louisiana in 1971. His leadership abilities were again recognized and he was elected President of the National Council of United States Magistrates in 1973. When Harry Lee visited the People's Republic of China as a member of the Boggs/Ford Delegation in 1972, it was determined he was the first American of Chinese Ancestry to be officially invited to the people's Republic of China since 1959. Harry Lee recognizing the need for a strong military service, joined the National Guard in 1961 as a 1Lt and retired in 1987 as the Assistant Adjutant General for Air with the rank of Brigadier General (La). Harry Lee presently serves as the Commander of the Louisiana State Guard with the rank of Major General (La). After resigning from the office of United States Magistrate, Harry was appointed as Parish Attorney for the Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana, and in 1979 was elected Sheriff of Jefferson Parish. Harry was re-elected in 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, and again in 1999. Special Awards: April 9, 1983 - Baltimore, MD 1983 RECIPIENT OF AMVETS SILVER HELMET AMERICANISM AWARD "Americanism Award presented to Mr. Harry Lee, Sheriff, Parish of Jefferson, Louisiana, in grateful; recognition of unselfish promotion of patriotic interest, activities and values, thus providing an inspiring example of the kind of American Citizenship that made this nation great." July 1, 1998 - RECIPIENT OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF COMMUNITY AND JUSTICE FIRST ANNUAL FOUNDER'S AWARD "First Annual Founder's Award presented to Sheriff Harry Lee for his dedicated support of "Anytown U.S.A.", a unique summer institute program that offers multi-cultural human relations training to high-school students, in the greater New Orleans area, who represent diverse racial, religious, ethnic and economic backgrounds." September 27, 1998 - Atlanta, Georgia RECIPIENT OF AWARD FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR IMPROVEMENT OF JUSTICE "Award presented to Sheriff Harry Lee for his superior management of the Sheriff's Office. His Department is known nationally for providing the five-minute response time for calls, for over 90% solution of murders and for an overall reduction in crime during his 18 years." May 20, 2000 - West Haven, Connecticut RECIPIENT OF HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF LAWS BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAVEN "Degree conferred to Sheriff Harry Lee in recognition of his distinguished career in public service." January 27, 2001 - Winnfield, Louisiana INDUCTED INTO THE LOUISIANA POLITICAL HALL OF FAME