Longtime Secretary of the Alabama Senate Dies
Former longtime secretary of the Alabama state Senate, McDowell Lee, has died at the age of 89. His daughter says Lee died Thursday afternoon after a brief illness at his home in Auburn.
Lee was born in Clayton, Alabama, in 1925 and attended Auburn University before joining the military in 1943. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II in both Europe and the Pacific. After the war, Lee graduated from Troy State University. Lee served one term as mayor of Clio before being elected to the Alabama House in 1954. After eight years in the House, he became secretary of the senate in 1963.
Lee served in that position for 47 years before retiring in 2010. Lee was the nation’s longest serving legislative secretary at the time of his retirement and was renowned for his knowledge of Alabama’s legislative procedures.
In 2008, WBHM’s Andrew Yeager spoke with Lee about his position and the change he had seen through five decades in the legislature.
~ Andrew Yeager and the Associated Press, April 18, 2014
Greetings from a peaceful woodland near the River Thames west of London
Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.
By listening to these birds for decades, scientists track signs of a changing forest
Scientists tracking the birds in an experimental forest in New Hampshire have also tracked changes in the forest ecosystem over decades.
Dr. Peter Hotez takes the war against science very personally
In an interview about the new book he co-authored, Science Under Siege, Hotez talks about forces driving the anti-science movement, the risks it poses — and why he won't debate RFK Jr.
Trump says he’s fighting crime. Illinois Gov. Pritzker sees a power grab before 2026
Steve Inskeep speaks with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker about President Trump's threats to send National Guard troops to Chicago and the future of the Democratic Party.
Who is Lachlan Murdoch, the anointed media tycoon?
His position in leading News Corp. and Fox is now secure, as his father ends a dramatic succession battle. Lachlan grew up in New York City but has lived in Australia for much of his adult life.
Trump’s control of the D.C. police is due to expire tonight. Then what?
Trump needs an extension from Congress to control D.C. police for more than 30 days. Some Republican lawmakers are focused on pursuing legislation that would exert power over D.C. in other ways.
