Tom Lee (New Mexico politician)

Tom K. Lee (February 14, 1920 – June 4, 1986) was an American Navajo politician in the state of New Mexico.[1]

Tom Lee
Member of the New Mexico Senate
from the 3rd district
In office
1967–1978
Personal details
Born(1920-02-14)February 14, 1920
McKinley County, New Mexico, U.S.
DiedJune 4, 1986(1986-06-04) (aged 66)
Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseEmma Rose Lee
Children6
ResidenceTwin Lakes, New Mexico
ProfessionTrading post operator, silversmith

Born at China Springs near Gallup in McKinley County, New Mexico,[2] Lee lived in the Twin Lakes, New Mexico area where he owned and operated a trading post.[3][1] He served with the United States Army in the Pacific Theatre of World War II and was a survivor of the Bataan Death March.[3] The first Native American elected to the New Mexico Senate, Lee served as a Republican in for the district from 1967 to 1978.[4] Initially approached in 1966 to run as a Democrat in the absence of a candidate, Lee opted to run as a Republican instead, and went on to serve three terms in the state senate.[3] He later served on the Navajo Nation Council from 1978 to 1982 and as president of the Twin Lakes Navajo Chapter House.[2][5]

Lee was married to Emma Rose Lee, an artist who designed/sewed one of the first Navajo Nation flags. They had six children and lived at Twin Lakes.[6][7] A son, Clarence and grandson, Russell were both later noted artists and silversmiths.[8] Lee died at a hospital in Albuquerque in 1986 at the age of 66.[9] Following his funeral, he was buried at Sunset Memorial Park in Gallup.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Waugh, Jack (April 29, 1972). "It's Been A Big Year Already In Indian Politics". The Deseret News. p. 4. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Obituaries". The Santa Fe New Mexican. June 9, 1986. p. 5. Retrieved September 8, 2022.  
  3. ^ a b c Yurth, Cindy (September 11, 2014). "The Gathering Spot". Navajo Times. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  4. ^ "The Extraordinary Book of Native American Lists - Arlene B. Hirschfelder, Paulette Fairbanks Molin - Google Books". Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  5. ^ "LEE: 1st Navajo Senator". The Santa Fe New Mexican. June 9, 1986. p. A9. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  6. ^ Yurth, Cindy (September 11, 2014). "Twin Lakes/Bahastl'ah has hosted summits since prehistoric times". Navajo Times. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  7. ^ "Silversmith & Lapidary Biographies: Clarence Lee".
  8. ^ "» Clarence and Russell Lee".
  9. ^ "1st Navajo NM senator dies at 66". The Santa Fe New Mexican. June 9, 1986. p. A1. Retrieved September 9, 2022.