AMARILLO - Funeral services for retired Brig. Gen. William L. "Jerry" Lee, 72, of 4120 Paramount, former commander of Amarillo Air Force Base who died Thursday, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Central Christian Church.
The Rev. Jack Cox, pastor, will officiate. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Ft. Sam Houston Cemetery in San Antonio. Arrangements were by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.
Gen. Lee retired here in 1959 after 37 years of service and resident of Amarillo since that time.
He was born in Weatherford and was a graduate of Texas A&M University. In 1928 he became an aviator in the Army Air Corps. He married Bertha Haag of San Antonio in 1929.
Prior to World War II, Mr. Lee was the first flight instructor of Filipino aviation cadets - a job which earned him the title of "Father of the Philippine Air Force." During this same period, he gave flying instruction to Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was then on the staff of Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
During World War II he commanded the 49th Bomber Wing in the Mediterranean.
Once called "the toughest guy in the Air Force" in a Saturday Evening Post article, he received 12 military decorations, including the U.S. Distinguished Service Medal and the French Legion of Honor.
After retirement he became active in Amarillo civic affairs. He served as vice president of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce three years.
Gen. Lee was a member of Rotary Club and served one term as president of the Amarillo Humane Society.
(Published in Borger News Herald, February 27, 1976)
---------------
His son, Col. William L. Lee, Jr. is also buried at Fort Sam.
The Rev. Jack Cox, pastor, will officiate. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Ft. Sam Houston Cemetery in San Antonio. Arrangements were by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.
Gen. Lee retired here in 1959 after 37 years of service and resident of Amarillo since that time.
He was born in Weatherford and was a graduate of Texas A&M University. In 1928 he became an aviator in the Army Air Corps. He married Bertha Haag of San Antonio in 1929.
Prior to World War II, Mr. Lee was the first flight instructor of Filipino aviation cadets - a job which earned him the title of "Father of the Philippine Air Force." During this same period, he gave flying instruction to Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was then on the staff of Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
During World War II he commanded the 49th Bomber Wing in the Mediterranean.
Once called "the toughest guy in the Air Force" in a Saturday Evening Post article, he received 12 military decorations, including the U.S. Distinguished Service Medal and the French Legion of Honor.
After retirement he became active in Amarillo civic affairs. He served as vice president of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce three years.
Gen. Lee was a member of Rotary Club and served one term as president of the Amarillo Humane Society.
(Published in Borger News Herald, February 27, 1976)
---------------
His son, Col. William L. Lee, Jr. is also buried at Fort Sam.
AMARILLO - Funeral services for retired Brig. Gen. William L. "Jerry" Lee, 72, of 4120 Paramount, former commander of Amarillo Air Force Base who died Thursday, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Central Christian Church.
The Rev. Jack Cox, pastor, will officiate. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Ft. Sam Houston Cemetery in San Antonio. Arrangements were by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.
Gen. Lee retired here in 1959 after 37 years of service and resident of Amarillo since that time.
He was born in Weatherford and was a graduate of Texas A&M University. In 1928 he became an aviator in the Army Air Corps. He married Bertha Haag of San Antonio in 1929.
Prior to World War II, Mr. Lee was the first flight instructor of Filipino aviation cadets - a job which earned him the title of "Father of the Philippine Air Force." During this same period, he gave flying instruction to Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was then on the staff of Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
During World War II he commanded the 49th Bomber Wing in the Mediterranean.
Once called "the toughest guy in the Air Force" in a Saturday Evening Post article, he received 12 military decorations, including the U.S. Distinguished Service Medal and the French Legion of Honor.
After retirement he became active in Amarillo civic affairs. He served as vice president of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce three years.
Gen. Lee was a member of Rotary Club and served one term as president of the Amarillo Humane Society.
(Published in Borger News Herald, February 27, 1976)
---------------
His son, Col. William L. Lee, Jr. is also buried at Fort Sam.
The Rev. Jack Cox, pastor, will officiate. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Ft. Sam Houston Cemetery in San Antonio. Arrangements were by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.
Gen. Lee retired here in 1959 after 37 years of service and resident of Amarillo since that time.
He was born in Weatherford and was a graduate of Texas A&M University. In 1928 he became an aviator in the Army Air Corps. He married Bertha Haag of San Antonio in 1929.
Prior to World War II, Mr. Lee was the first flight instructor of Filipino aviation cadets - a job which earned him the title of "Father of the Philippine Air Force." During this same period, he gave flying instruction to Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was then on the staff of Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
During World War II he commanded the 49th Bomber Wing in the Mediterranean.
Once called "the toughest guy in the Air Force" in a Saturday Evening Post article, he received 12 military decorations, including the U.S. Distinguished Service Medal and the French Legion of Honor.
After retirement he became active in Amarillo civic affairs. He served as vice president of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce three years.
Gen. Lee was a member of Rotary Club and served one term as president of the Amarillo Humane Society.
(Published in Borger News Herald, February 27, 1976)
---------------
His son, Col. William L. Lee, Jr. is also buried at Fort Sam.
Gravesite Details
BRIG GEN US Air Force, World War II, Korea
Family Members
Spouse
Other Records
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
