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Show UTAH WOMAN'S REVIEW Page 19 oumntK nl m ROW Margaret Draper Lee Margaret Draper Lee, culturally refined and gracious as a hostess and community leader, was the First Lady of Utah as the wife of Governor Lee for 8 years and 12 years as First Lady of Salt Lake as the Mayor's wife. Born in Wellington, Carbon County, Utah, she was a descendant of early neers to that area. She piodiv- ided her younger years between the Uintah Basin and Carbon County. Her father, John E. Draper, an d mother, Anna Margaret Hanson Draper, were among the early ranch people in the Upper Uintah Basin where her father also owned and operated some lumber mills. Following his death in 1918, Margaret, nine years old and the eldest of five children, returned with her mother and family to Carbon County. Eight years after her father's death, her mother died and Margaret was orphaned at 17. Through a determined effor t the family was kept together. They feel that it has been a wonderful thing because Margaret, her brother and sisters are a very close-kn- it family group. After business training, she was employed as personal secretary to the president of the Carbon County Bank where she also acted as a teller. Later1 she was employed as personal secretary to the president of the Weeter Lumber Company where she was also a bookkeeper and sold lumber. At the time she met M. Bracken Lee, she was Deputy County Clerk of Carbon County, where she ser ved for three years. Margaret married J. Bracken Lee in 1928--LeYear -- and issued her own marriage license. In the excitement following the ceremony, she forgot to record the marriage until several days ap later. She has always been active in civic' and cultural projects, tsy the time she was 30 years of age she had been the president of five different organizations, including president of the Utah Municipal League Auxiliary and also the Carbon County Director of Girl Scouts. She served as a troop leader for 14 years. She always took a very active part in her husband's campaigning, accompanying him throughout the state. She had the good fortune of having her wonderful sisters take care of their children when they were away from home campaigning. When J. Bracken became Governor of Utah, Margaret found her years as thr wife of the Mayor of the active community of Price excellent training for the increased activities. couple L1HS. J. B racben Lee Failing in his bid (or the During her years in Salt Lake City, she has continued her many civic and cultural activities with an interest mainly in the field of art. Both Bracken and Margaret are supporters and patrons of the arts. Margaret has continued her long-tim- e interest in the hobby of collecting unusual, earky West-ter- n Americana books and stories which she has used in the many programs she U. S. Senate on the Indepen- dent ticket, in 1958, he ran for Mayor of capital improvements Today their children are the pursuit of their careers. They have 13 grandchildren and 2 Retirement from public life will be little change for Margaret. She said, we're all creatures of habit. Bracken is an orderly, disciplined person, so I imagine we'll continue to rise at 6:30 a.m. en. then. Re-elect- ed Former "First Lady Lee and Governor-Mavo- r a, Lee's mind, always inquisitive will never retire. For the past five months, she's been doing a research paper entitled, "Gold Rush of Western Art," which she will present to the Ladies Literary Club. She has presented one or two papers each year since joining the club in 1949 and written several original scripts in addition. An operation on her hip in 1967 had curtailed her speaking engagements somewhat, but she still moves with the use of a cane or a walker. Spending a month in Japan with the mayor, visiting out of the way. places, with the help of her Japanese guide, a-b- out has started her collecting books on Japan, to add to her library on Western literature. She is noted for her fascinating talks on "Wonderful Women of the West." She has thrilled and inspired groups across the state with her beautiful stories of womanhood in western culture and spoken oyer 275 times at various women's organiii. zations. Mrs. Lee has always loved books nad found richness in life sharing these beautiful secrets with others. We are pleased to honor this gracious, beautiful First Lady alon g with her outstanding and wish them continued happiness of life for the future. husband-governor-may- or in '63 & '67 Mayor Lee has always held eat a good breakfast togeth- Mrs. pro- gram. These promises he fulfilled in a spectacular fashion. Beginning in his first year in office, the city balanced its budget, absorbing $500,000 in unpaid bills in the process, and has been operating in the black since all married and engaged in er and he'll go Jo his office in the Walker Bank Building, And unless there are engagements-for dinner, we'll have dinner at home at 6 p.m. "We'll continue weekend jaunts when weather permits with Mrs. and Mrs. A.M. Gur-netraveling the backroads of Utah and surrounding states, visiting towns, places we've sought out and studied before going." Mrs. Gurnea was the one who introduced Bracken to Margaret. ed Salt Lake the next year and was elected. For ten years prior to I960, the city government had been operating in the red, Mayor Lee promised to institute reforms that would restore good government, eliminate deficit financing and move ahead with a major has given. great-grandchildr- ua-daut- J. Bracken Lee the imost efficient city administration over a period in the State of Utah. Defeated in his bids for the U. S. House of Representatives and for his first try for the governorship, did 12-ye- ar J. Bracken Lee, Politician extraordinaire, efficiency expert, husband and father, patron of the arts and friend to honest government , is a man of our times. Governor for 8 years, Mayor for 24, Mr. Lee's accomplishments and the principles he has adhered to in the conduct of governmental affairs have given many people a renewed faith in the future of our form of government. A native of Price, Utah, Governor Lee was born on January 7,1899, a son of Arthur.. James and Ida May (Leiter) Lee. He attended elementary schools in Fruita, Colorado, before graduating from Carbon High School at Price, Utahs He served in the United States Army during World War I and the Reserve Offi- cers Corps until 1935. He entered the insurance and real estate business in Price, becoming half owner of the Equitable Ins. up until 1953 when he A-gen- - (XfLtJl cy sold out to his partner. Since the early 1930's Lee has been interested in public affairs. He was elected Mayor of Price in the fall of 1935 and served six successive terms before declining the nomination for the seventh. Mayor His achievements as Mayor of Price brought him State and National recognition. He was once singled out as being one of the three outstanding mayors of the United States, and he has been credited with establishing not discourage Mayor Lee and in 1948 was elected to the high office, by an overwhelming majority of votes. in 1952 by an Re-elect- ed even greater magin, he continued to pursue the course of efficiency in government as he had in the past. Civic activites have been many and varied for Mayor Lee: member of Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, B. P. 0. Elks; president of Utah Municipal League; prominent in the Masonic Order. An outdor sports' enthusiast. Bracken is a familiar figure along Utah fishing and hunting trails. He is an expert marksman and in 1950 he won the Class B Trap-shooti- ng title in the State ATA single matches. Prior to his venture into public life, he also tried his hand at oil painting and intricate wood carving, and some of his works are now on display at his home. Mayor Lee had one daughter , Helen Virginia, born in 1925 by his first marriage. After his wife died, he later married Margaret Draper on February 23, 1928, at Price. Into the home of this fine cultured couple were born three lovely children, James Bracken, Margaret Jon, and Richard Lewis, all married and pursuing successful the vote and confidence of the people. Campaigning on the pledge of instituting honesty, efficiency and in government, he has fulfilled his pledges although he may not have been able to achieve all the great goals he felt were needed. To know J. Bracken Lee is to appreciate intellectual honesty. His principles of government, carried through for 32 years as Mayor and Governor, have neverwaver-e- d nor deviated. His "test he applied ta each problem is sound: "Will this be in the best interests- of most - people?" Now that Mayor Lee has retired from public office he has left a legacy of good honest government for his successors to follow. He has genuinely tried to do his best to make the government work for the people. These ideals and goals are still in his heart and from behind the scenes he will undoubtedly be working to help wherever he can; In a letter, appearing in the newspaper, Dec. 1971, the writer said . . . "I know it discourages him that many of the things he believed in and fought for haven't come about, but I can assure him that thanks to his influence others will take over where he left off." It bore the signature . . . Richard L. Lee . his son . We at the Woman's Review honor both Mr. and Mrs. J. Bracken Lee in their outstanding accomplishments and wish them continued success and joy in life. . lives of their own. Two news items of interest to senior citizens: Eugene Jelesnik auditioned the Kitchen Aires singing group to appear on a future show of the "Talent Time" series on TV. The same group have also been taped to appear on KUTV "Morning Show" also. No date has been set for either appearances, however. congratulate this talented group on their accomplishments. We |