My Winthrop Experience

Eddie Lee's love affair with history started at an early age and was stoked by relatives who loved learning about our country's capital.

"I was fortunate to have two uncles and two aunts who lived in the Washington, D.C. area so I spent many summers as a child visiting historic sites like Mount Vernon, Stratford Hall, the Smithsonian, the Jefferson Memorial, and the Capitol Building," said Lee '83, who is a history professor.

As a boy, he remembered sitting in Vice President Lyndon Johnson's chair in 1962, and the following year, traveling to Gettysburg for the 100th anniversary of that important Civil War battle.

Closer to home, Lee and his parents visited locations around South Carolina, such as rice plantations in the Lowcountry and tobacco farms in the Pee Dee. "I've always been able to breathe the history of this nation," said the Chester County native. "To appreciate Southern history is to appreciate the many stories of colorful characters who have lived in the Palmetto state."

During the nation's 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Lee was one of a 17-member SC250 State Commission created to draw attention to South Carolina’s pivotal role in the American Revolution. He reminded Americans that during the war that more than 400 battles, skirmishes and events took place across the state, including one of the war’s bloodiest battles at Eutaw Springs. “There are dozens of historical markers, museums and homes dedicated to the Revolutionary era,” Lee said. “The Revolutionary War was won here in the Palmetto State in places like Kings Mountain, at Huck’s Defeat and Cowpens.”

Professor, historian and mayor
Lee joined the Winthrop faculty in 1994 and directs the graduate studies in history program. Looking back on his teaching career, Lee said the 10,000 students he has taught during the last 33 years bring him tremendous pride. "I've always enjoyed hearing from them and getting updates on their lives."

His contributions didn't just occur in the classroom. From 2002 through 2019, Lee represented the city of York as its mayor. The historic city, which is the county seat for York County and contains a large historic district.

He said he has been successful in his many roles because he is obsessive about good time management. "I do not waste time. I begin, as I always have, my day at 4:30 a.m. I try to complete each day at 10:30 p.m., but that is subject to change because unexpected things happen!"

One of Lee's greatest honors was in receiving the Order of the Palmetto. S.C. Governor Henry McMaster presented Lee the state's highest honor, citing his lifetime of achievements as a professor, historian and government official.

Lee also is the author or co-author of 15 books, including two on the Vietnam War, one of which came out during the 25th anniversary of the end of that conflict.

He was honored also to be selected for the Palmetto Trust's Historic Preservation's Elected Official Award in 2015 for leading the efforts to save the historic York County Courthouse. As the recipient, he received the award at the State House from then Lieutenant Governor Henry McMaster.

For his many contributions, a group of Lee's students have come together to create the J. Edward Lee Scholarship. The endowed fund will provide scholarship money for a graduate student studying history. Lee's friends and former students-including six history professors, five current elected officials, a dozen educators and numerous entrepreneurs-have contributed to the scholarship.

For more information or to contribute, visit the Winthrop development website.