Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Armory namesake dies

Tom B. Lee Jr., better known as Bussy, died March 3 at Arkadelphia. A former resident of Prescott, Lees name is probably most familiar for its place on the local National Guard Armory - formally named the Tom B. Lee Jr. National Guard Armory.

Lee was a familiar figure locally and many recall his presence at the Nevada County Courthouse and other public sites.

Ive been working at the courthouse 27 years, said Cherie Wilson of the Nevada County Clerks office. There were about seven or eight men who set outside everyday and solved the problems of the world.

Wilson said Lee was one of those men.

He was a highly respected man, Wilson said.

He was a really cool people person, said Nevada County Clerk Julie Oliver. He was full of life. He took care of everybody.

Everybody included those who depended on the United States National Guard in times of crisis. According to Sgt. Paul Melton of the Tom B. Lee Jr. National Guard Armory, Lee was in the U.S. Army from 1940-45 and was fulltime at the Prescott armory from 1948 through 1978.

Lee holds the distinction of being the last person for whom an armory was named, Melton said.

Military graveside services are slated for 3 p.m. Saturday at the Piney Grove Cemetery in Boughton.