Dwight Lamon

KELLER -- Dwight Lamon Lee II, also known as, "Junior," "Sonny Boy," "D.L.," "Dwight," "Daddy," "Dad," "Granddaddy," "Great-Granddaddy," and "friend" to all who entered his life, strolled through the gates of heaven on Friday, Feb. 27, 2009.        Memorial service: 1 p.m. Sunday, March 22, at Keller United Methodist Church on Johnson Road. An open reception will follow in the fellowship hall sponsored by the Wesley Class.        Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dwight Lee's charities, United Methodist Church of Keller, Muscular Dystrophy Association of Fort Worth, The Salvation Army of Fort Worth and/or American Cancer Society of Fort Worth.        Dwight was an only child, born to Dwight Lamon Lee and Mary O. Lee on Jan. 19, 1935; the birthday of his mother "his family," along with that of Robert E. Lee "his heritage," and Martin Luther King Jr. "his belief" in Jonesboro, Ark. He graduated from Paragould High School in 1952 and soon after, married Beverly Ann Albright, his lifelong partner. Together they took on the world while loving and raising Stephen Franklin, Beverly Elaine and Ronald Wayne, all born in Paragould.        Dwight began his career in 1954 with the Arkansas Department of Highways and in 1956 he started with the Bureau of Public Roads (Federal Highway Administration) traveling the U.S. with his family, doing the first studies for designing the interstate highway system. For the next 6 years, he traveled and worked in 46 states, and he and his family lived in 38 states.        While traveling the U.S., he began working towards an engineering degree in Iowa. He then received a permanent assignment in Austin in 1962. While in Austin, he attended the University of Texas during his lunch hour and evenings. Dwight, being one of only a few, was designated an engineer by the Federal Highway Administration, without an engineering degree. He graduated from the University of Texas in 1973 and was a Longhorn for life, though his blood ran red for the Arkansas Razorbacks as well. Immediately upon graduating, he obtained his professional engineer designation.        In the summer of 1973, the Federal Highway Administration transferred Dwight to Oklahoma City. His assignment was district engineer over Southeast Oklahoma "The Indian Nation/The Five Civilized Tribes." Some of his ancestors were Cherokee. Then, in 1977 his FHWA experience made him a perfect match for the Reinforced Earth Company, which needed a vice president to head its SW Region. With his energetic and trustworthy spirit, Dwight pioneered this new technology into a position of wide acceptance throughout the region. He ultimately developed Reinforced Earth Company's local operation into the largest region in the U.S.        Dwight left Reinforced Earth in 1991 and started Dwight L. Lee and Associates, an engineering and consulting company, with his son, Ron Lee. By spring of that year, Uretek USA, Inc. was setting up operations in the United States from Finland. Again, Dwight was sought out to be the first representative and P.E. of record for Uretek. As vice president his last project to work with and oversee was part of the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium/City of Arlington Project.        For over three decades, Dwight actively served and participated in ASCE as a member of the Fort Worth Branch. In 1998, Dwight received the Citizen Engineer Award from the Texas Section of ASCE. The society also granted Dwight the status of fellow/life member and the Order of Engineer.        Dwight and Beverly moved to the town of Keller in 1977, becoming members of First United Methodist Church of Keller and over the time he was asked to serve as lay leader, Sunday school teacher, chairman of the trustees, and building committee chairman. These were the same positions he served while the family had attended Faith United Methodist in South Austin. One difference at Keller Methodist he would always say, was that he was only the leader of the Wesley Class, not the teacher: "It's hard enough to be the leader when your herding cats." Dwight was instrumental along with The Wesley Class, also know as "The Wesley Cats," in setting up the first recycling collection center in Keller, and the restoration and cleaning of Mount Gilead Cemetery.        Dwight's commitment to the community showed in the letters to the editor that he wrote. Dwight was a charter member of the Keller Rotary Club and loyal supporter of the Keller Lions Club. Dwight's, Beverly's and Ron's commitment to Old Town Keller was evident in their restoration and preservation of over 12 structures through their company Main Street Depot and the personal donation of the land for the Keller Veterans Memorial at Old Town Square at Main Street (Highway 377) and Price Street, now known as Keller Parkway, or FM 1709.        He is missed by all who knew him as a friend, loved by many, but most of all, the memory of Dwight will bring a smile, a chuckle and a laugh to all just as he did his entire life.        Survivors: Missing and loving Dwight and son Stephen Franklin are Beverly Lee wife (mother of Stephen), Beverly Elaine McDonald daughter (sister of Stephen), Ronald W. son (brother of Stephen), and the entire family. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dwight Lamon please visit our Sympathy Store.