Bio: Elmo Pearce Lee; Red River, then Caddo Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
Date: 1999-2000





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Elmo Pearce Lee.  Partner in a law firm at Shreveport which enjoys a
commanding prestige at the bar of Northern Louisiana, Elmo Pearce Lee is one
of the younger men in his profession, but his abilities and talents have
brought him a reputation and distinction    his years in experience.

He was born in Red River Parish. Louisiana, February 10, 1882, son of P. A.
and Permelia (Herring) Lee and grandson of B. S. Lee, who was a native of
Alabama and served four years as a Confederate soldier in the war between the
states.  P. A. Lee was also a native of Red River Parish.

Elmo Pearce Lee was thoroughly educated and prepared by business experience as
well as schooling for his chosen profession.  He attended the local schools it
his native parish, was graduated in 1901 from the Polytechnic Institute at
Ruston. and in 1900 entered the law department of Louisiana State University,
graduating with the Bachelor of Laws degree in l901.  Mr. Lee for a number of
years before locating at Shreveport engaged in an extended practice at
Mansfield, where in the fall of 1911 he formed a partnership with Mr. C. W.
Elam, Sr.  They practiced as Elam and Lee until the death of Mr. Elam in 1917. 
Mr. Lee in 1921 removed to Shreveport, but still retains his law business at
Mansfield, where he is senior member of the firm Lee and Bell, his partner
being L. H. Bell, Jr.  At Shreveport for the past three years he has been a
member of the law firm Thigpen, Harold, Lee and Cousins, with offices in the
Ardis Building.  This firm handles a general practice involving business all
over Northwestern Louisiana and adjoining states, much of its work being done
for prominent oil producing companies and other corporations.

Mr. Lee was elected and served as delegate for the Constitutional Convention
of 1921.  He was one of the prominent lawyers of that convention, and in many
ways influenced the shaping of the organic law of the state.  He was one of
the two members of the convention honored in a special way by their fellow
members for their service, Mr. Lee being presented with a gold desk set.  He
served as high Private of the Convention.  For a number of years he has been a
leader in the democratic party of Louisiana, though not personally an aspirant
for public honors.  In June of 1923 the local examining committees for
admission to the bar of Louisiana were abolished and one committee for the
entire state, consisting of nine members, under the rules of the Supreme
Court, was created in their stead. All applicants for admission to the bar
must pass this committee.  Mr. Lee was appointed a member for a term of one
year, and in 1924 was reappointed for an additional term of three years.

He married Miss Katherine Galloway, of Canton, Mississippi, a kinswoman of
Bishop Galloway of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.  Their four children
are  Elmo, Jr.,  Charles,  Ruth and  Beth.  Mr. Lee is a member of the state
bar association and he is a Mason, a Knight of Pythias and an Elk.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 211, by Henry E. Chambers.  Published by
The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.