David Lee Sr.
David Jonathon Lee Sr. was born on this date in 1924. He was a Black lawyer and entrepreneur.
From Lincoln, NE., He was the youngest son of Robert and Blanche Lee. He was orphaned at the age of ten due to the early death of his parents and was raised by his Uncle George and Aunt Elnora Evans. Lee attended Whittier Junior high school and graduated from Lincoln Senior high school in 1942. During that time, he excelled in many areas, particularly mathematics and debate. Drafted into the army, he served in the European Theater and was discharged as a Master Sergeant.
While serving, the army sent him to Howard University, where he joined the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. After the military, he moved to California and completed law school at Southwestern University Law School in 1952. After passing the California Bar Exam, Lee, B. T. Davis, and Frank LaVigne opened the first Black-Owned Law firm, Lee, LaVigne, and Davis, in the city at 1044 Vernon Avenue, Los Angeles. To celebrate the event, (then) councilman and eventual Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley attended the grand opening.
Married three times, Lee was an avid tennis player, especially at the Crenshaw Tennis Center in LA. David J. Lee died of prostrate cancer in November 2002.
