[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4909]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING BILLY LEE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 27, 2003

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, a longtime friend of mine, 
Mr. William R. ``Billy'' Lee, passed away on Friday, January 3rd, 2003, 
at his residence in Green Cove Springs, Florida. Billy was born in 
Russell, Florida, on October 28th, 1934, and lived his entire life in 
Green Cove Springs, Florida, located in my congressional district, 
Florida's third. A religious man, Mr. Lee was a Baptist by faith, and 
was a dedicated member of Russell Baptist Church. In fact, Mr. Lee was 
a former Deacon of the church.
  Billy joined the International Association of Machinists in July 
27th, 1956, in Local Lodge 1098, in Palatka, Florida. A dedicated union 
activist, Billy served as the Florida State Council of Machinists Vice 
President for 10 years before he was elected President in 1998. He 
served in this capacity until retiring in 1998.
  I have always been a devoted friend of the organized labor movement. 
I have spent a great deal of time here in my 10 years in Washington 
advocating on behalf of America's working men and women. It has been a 
privilege for me to be able to work with brave local labor leaders like 
Billy Lee, in the pursuit of defending the interests of working 
Americans. In my 20 years as an elected official--I have never voted 
against the working men and women in this room. I stand as a proud 
friend of labor and always will be.
  In Billy Lee's time as International Association of Machinists 
President, he served among those brave leaders on the front lines of 
the fight to achieve greater worker compensation, improved employee 
health benefits, social security and pension benefits, and better 
worker rights. The International Association of Machinists, a large and 
diverse organization, represents 730,000 members across North America. 
The Northeast Florida branch, with dedicated Members like Billy, fights 
to carry out the IAM's union's righteous cause, to stand up against big 
business and fight to protect the workers of America.
  Billy was survived by his wife Joyce, his son Michael Ray Lee, 
daughter Marilyn Lee, and eight grandchildren. A family oriented man, 
Billy enjoyed fishing, gardening and particularly loved cookouts. Billy 
Lee was loved and well respected by everyone that knew him. He will be 
dearly missed by his family, the community, and by those who fought 
alongside him in the labor movement.

                          ____________________