Lee W. Phelps was born on February 9th, 1936 in Barstow, California to Cecilia and Leroy Phelps. His father worked on the railroad and moved the family to San Bernardino. Lee attended Sturges Jr. High and met the love of his life at the mere age of 13.
As a sophomore at San Bernardino High School, Lee lettered in four varsity sports: football, basketball, baseball, and track. During his senior year, he was offered a football scholarship to The University of Oregon. His team, coached by Lynn Casanova and John McKay, included the likes of John Madden and John Robinson.
Lee proposed on Prom night to Jean Reynolds with a ring hidden in her corsage. They married in 1955. Following their nuptials, Jean joined Lee in Oregon where they lived together for the next three years. As freshmen, Lee pledged Sigma Chi and Jean worked as secretary to the Dean of Men and 21 fraternities.
In 1958, Lee was given the opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl against Ohio State. He graduated the same year and moved with Jean to Washington, DC to fulfill his ROTC commitment. He served in the Air Force and played football at the Bolling Air Force Base where General LeMay recruited the finest players. During this time, Jean gave birth to Lee's first daughter, Melinda Lee at Andrews Air Force Hospital.
Lee played football professionally for the Boston Patriots until suffering a serious knee injury. He then moved back to Southern California with Jean to coach and teach history. In 1962, Lee welcomed his second daughter Jamie Lou and took a summer job with Jim Knapp at Dunn Properties. He started as a site supervisor and eventually became VP of the company. Lee then worked for B.H. Miller and subsequently grew his own real estate development firm where he worked until retirement. During his career, Lee was President of the National Association of Industrial Office Parks and was awarded for "Man of the Year" and Lifetime Achievement. He also officiated in Orange County for many years and served as President and Instructional Chairman of Orange County Officials.
Lee and Jean moved to Villa Park, California in 1974. Jamie married Mark Davis and had two sons, Dylan Lee and Cooper James. Melinda married Nicola Angiuli and had twin daughters, Madeleine Jean and Nicole Filomena, and a younger son, Gino Phelps. The family spent multiple summers in Lake Arrowhead where many people probably remember his 6:00 AM wake up call, "Let's Boogie!" The neighbor next door to the cabin once claimed that he wished he was one of Lee Phelps's grandchildren. He truly did everything for them.
Lee approached life with a "just do it" attitude. He was a mentor to young people and an inspiration to many. Lee had grandiose charisma and a magnetic quality that drew others towards him in both the business realm and his personal life. He was naturally competitive and a dedicated hard worker, husband, father, and grandfather. Lee proudly provided for his family and always put them first. His legacy will live on as a positive, charitable, and selfless individual that we can all look up to.
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