William States Lee III
Encyclopedia
William States Lee III, popularly known as Bill Lee, was born in Charlotte
, North Carolina
in 1929. He attended Woodberry Forest School
and was a Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Princeton University
in Civil Engineering
. After serving in the U.S. Navy SeaBees, Lee joined Duke Power’s engineering department in 1955 as a junior engineer. He was promoted to engineering vice president in 1965, engineering and construction senior vice president in 1971 and executive vice president in 1976. He became president and chief operating officer of Duke Power Company in 1978 and chairman and Chief Executive Officer
in 1982.
Lee helped to form the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations
after the Three Mile Island accident
. He was also an initiator of the World Association of Nuclear Operators
, in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster
, becoming its first president. In 1989 he was named "CEO of the decade" by Financial World magazine.
Lee retired from Duke Power in 1994. He died of cardiac arrest in New York City July 10, 1996. A popular man and supporter of education, the College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
was named in his honor in 1994, as was the "Bill Lee Freeway", a stretch of Interstate Highway 77
north from Charlotte, and Duke Energy's William States Lee III Nuclear Generating Station
in South Carolina
.
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in 1929. He attended Woodberry Forest School
Woodberry Forest School
Woodberry Forest School is a private, all-male boarding school located in Woodberry Forest, Madison County, Virginia, in the United States. Woodberry's current enrollment is 402. Students come from 28 U.S...
and was a Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in Civil Engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
. After serving in the U.S. Navy SeaBees, Lee joined Duke Power’s engineering department in 1955 as a junior engineer. He was promoted to engineering vice president in 1965, engineering and construction senior vice president in 1971 and executive vice president in 1976. He became president and chief operating officer of Duke Power Company in 1978 and chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
in 1982.
Lee helped to form the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations
Institute of Nuclear Power Operations
The Institute of Nuclear Power Operations , headquartered in the Atlanta suburb of Marietta, GA, is an organization established in 1979 by the U.S. nuclear power industry in response to recommendations by the Kemeny Commission Report, following the investigation of the Three Mile Island Unit 2 event...
after the Three Mile Island accident
Three Mile Island accident
The Three Mile Island accident was a core meltdown in Unit 2 of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania near Harrisburg, United States in 1979....
. He was also an initiator of the World Association of Nuclear Operators
World Association of Nuclear Operators
The World Association of Nuclear Operators is an international organisation founded in 1989 after the Chernobyl accident to foster international cooperation and professional excellence within the nuclear industry...
, in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster
Chernobyl disaster
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine , which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities in Moscow...
, becoming its first president. In 1989 he was named "CEO of the decade" by Financial World magazine.
Lee retired from Duke Power in 1994. He died of cardiac arrest in New York City July 10, 1996. A popular man and supporter of education, the College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte , also known as UNC Charlotte or simply Charlotte, is a public research university located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States...
was named in his honor in 1994, as was the "Bill Lee Freeway", a stretch of Interstate Highway 77
Interstate 77
Interstate 77 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. It traverses diverse terrain, from the mountainous state of West Virginia to the rolling farmlands of North Carolina and Ohio. It largely supplants the old U.S...
north from Charlotte, and Duke Energy's William States Lee III Nuclear Generating Station
William States Lee III Nuclear Generating Station
The William States Lee III Nuclear Station is a planned two-unit nuclear power plant. Duke Energy filed the Combined Construction and Operating License application for the plant on December 13, 2007 to the NRC...
in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.