Hyrum Rex Lee | |
---|---|
44th Governor of American Samoa | |
In office May 24, 1961 – August 1, 1967 |
|
Preceded by | Peter Tali Coleman |
Succeeded by | Owen Aspinall |
50th Governor of American Samoa | |
In office May 28, 1977 – January 3, 1978 |
|
Preceded by | Frank Barnett |
Succeeded by | Peter Tali Coleman |
Personal details | |
Born |
Rigby, Idaho, U.S. |
April 8, 1910
Died | July 26, 2001 San Diego, California, U.S. |
(aged 91)
Nationality | American |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Lillian "Lily" Lee (?–2010) |
Hyrum Rex Lee (April 8, 1910 – July 26, 2001) was the last non-elected Governor of American Samoa. He was governor from May 24, 1961 to July 31, 1967 and from May 28, 1977 until January 3, 1978. He was the seventh appointed civilian Governor of American Samoa. Born in Rigby, Idaho and a Democrat, Lee served as Federal Communications Commission commissioner from 1968 to 1973.
On June 21, 1963 Paramount Chief Tuli Le’iato of Faga’itua was sworn in and installed as the first Secretary of Samoan Affairs by Governor H. Rex Lee.
Lee died at his home in San Diego, California, on July 26, 2001, at the age of 91. He had five children (three daughters and two sons). He was a friend of entertainment mogul Walt Disney, who visited the Lee family and stayed at their home. His wife, Lillian Lee, died in April 2010 at the age of 97.