By Karen Hall

Editor

Judging from the year he graduated from Cornersville High School (Valedictorian, 1983) Major Kendell B. Lee is younger than many Citizens of the Year in the recent past.

However, unselfish and generous service to everyone has been the hallmark of Lee's life since he was a teenager, and continues today, making him a deserving recipient of the award in spite of his relatively young age.

Lee was recommended for the award by Alice Holbert, who wrote, "When I met my future husband, I also met Ken Lee. Ken was a wonderful friend to my husband, who is crippled with cerebral palsy. He made it possible for Johnny to go to ballgames, concerts, vacation spots, and enjoy the possibilities of life as a young man in rural Tennessee. He drove all night from Fort Lee, Va., (where he was in Officer Basic Training) to come to our wedding" in 1990.

Teaching, ministering and serving in the National Guard have proceded side by side in Lee's life since the '80s. He joined the National Guard in 1986, the year before he graduated from Lipscomb University with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics, and a minor in Bible. Lee trained as a minister at the same time he studied to be a teacher.

Judging from what Holbert wrote, Lee does not let setbacks discourage him, make him abandon anything he passionately believes in, or do anything less than the best he can.

Lee was a minister for the Diana Church of Christ before his first deployment. Now he fills in as needed for various local congregations, and is a deacon at the Robertson Fork Church of Christ, as well as heading the ministry at Marshall County Jail. While on deployment, Lee provided spiritual leadership to his men.

Deployments caused Lee to give up two of his dream jobs -- high school head coach and assistant director of schools -- but he returned to teaching and coaching every time, without complaint. Now he is assistant principal of Cornersville Elementary and a peewee football coach.

"Lee is a man who has definitely gone above and beyond (in) his service to his country abroad," wrote Holbert. He is currently Plan Branch Chief for the 230th Sustainment Brigade in Chattanooga, and has received a whole list of awards and medals for his service in the National Guard.

So far, this could be the description of a busy life for a bachelor, but Lee has always been a caring and active family man as well. He married a local girl, Becky Pettus, when he came home from college, and they have two children, Bobby Wayne and Katherine.

"He has ministered to his parents and parent-in-law into their golden years, helping on the farms," wrote Holbert. "Every year that he is stateside, Ken hosts a big catfish fry for the Lee family ... a sense of family and a sense of community is transmitted from generation to generation."

Lee has been recognized with the Cornersville PRIDE award, and supports the Cornersville Action Team, the Cornersville Booster Club, and Lions Club horseshows, as well as serving on the Mars Hill Cemetery Board of Directors.

Holbert concluded her recommendation by writing, "Ken Lee is a very good man, worthy to be called 'hero.' He was the first to spring into my mind. When you choose, choose this good man, good teacher, good administrator, good coach, good husband and father, good son and son-in-law, good minister, good soldier, good leader, and Our Hero!"

Chamber of Commerce President Vicki Cain read Holbert's three-page recommendation to the crowd at the traditional July 3 Chamber Breakfast, and said, "Thank you, Alice, for letting us know exactly who Ken Lee is."

"It's a humbling experience," said Lee as he accepted the plaque from Cain. "It was the farthest thing from my mind. Thank you."