PRAISE CONNOR LEE (1929-1977)

Lee was born in Grimesland NC. Upon graduation from Atlantic Christian Academy (now Barton College) in 1951, Lee joined the United States Air Force and served until 1955. According to Lee's wife Harriet, he planned to be a farmer but when that proved too costly, Lee entered the engineering program at NCSU. Soon, he discovered architecture and transferred to the School of Design. Under George Matsumoto, Lee was awarded first place in the 1959 Edison Electric Light for Living Home Design Competition.

Lee graduated in 1960 and went to work for J. N. Pease for four years. He received several awards including an AIA Merit Award for a branch of First Citizens Bank. After leaving Pease, Lee worked in Charlotte as a partner with Brackett, Sadri & Lee before moving to Raleigh briefly to establish a branch office for Lyles Bissett Carlisle & Wolfe. He returned to Charlotte as a partner with Bill Little as Little Lee, and later left to establish his own firm in 1971. Lee died of a heart attack, his third, in 1977. If you know of any more Lee houses, please email.

1963 - The Praise Connor Lee and Harriet J. Lee Residence, 3714 Country Ridge Road, Charlotte NC. 2600 square feet. The bedrooms have pocket doors that slide out of view, no open door to steal space. All the closets have sliding doors. The custom-built wooden drawers in the bedrooms have no pulls.Sold in 1966 when they moved to Raleigh. Many owners. As of 2011 owned by Leslie (Les) E. and Dorothy (Do) H. Fleck. Sold in 2013 to Heather B. Friedman.

1970 - The Praise Connor Lee and Harriet J. Lee Residence II, 4242 Town and Country Drive, Charlotte NC. 3694 square feet. The Lees moved here after leaving Raleigh. Sold in 1998 to Roger and Joyce Grosswald.

In 2009, Harriet Lee recalled a house near Carmel Road in Mountain Brook area of Charlotte but can't remember the location.

Sources include: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission; Harriet J. Lee; Praise Connor Lee Jr.