Lee, Umphrey, 1893-1958

Umphrey Lee enjoyed a long and unique relationship with Southern Methodist University. He entered SMU in the fall of 1915 for the university’s first academic year and was a member of the first graduating class the following spring, receiving a Master of Theology degree. During his year at SMU, he was elected the first president of the student body. His most prominent university role came in 1939 when he became the university’s fourth president, and served in that capacity until 1954. The Board of Trustees then established the office of chancellor, and Lee was appointed as SMU’s first chancellor; he served in that role from 1954 to 1958.

Lee was born March 23, 1893 in Oakland City, Indiana. His father, Josephus Lee, was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Umphrey later became a member of the clergy as well. The family moved to Texas in 1909, settling in Brownwood. Lee attended Daniel Baker College in Brownwood from 1910-1912, and then transferred to Trinity University (at that time located in Waxahachie, south of Dallas) for the next two years. He received his A.B. at Trinity in 1914.

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