Chaffetz seeks to honor Rex E. Lee

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, is proposing to rename a Provo Post Office in honor of Rex E. Lee, a former president of Brigham Young University and a former U.S. Solicitor General.

"Rex E. Lee cherished Provo and loved BYU," Chaffetz said as he introduced the legislation on Thursday to rename the Post Office at 936 S. 250 East in Provo.

"It is appropriate to honor Mr. Lee by dedicating this postal facility. Post Offices are oftentimes synonymous with community. Rex E. Lee was a staple of our community," Chaffetz said.

Lee was president of BYU from 1989 to 1995 and earlier was the founding dean of BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School.

He was the U.S. Solicitor General, the federal government's top lawyer to represent its cases before the Supreme Court, from 1981 to 1985. He argued 59 cases before the Supreme Court during his career as a lawyer.

Lee died of cancer in 1996. An annual race named for him is held at BYU to raise money for cancer research.

"The memory of Rex E. Lee will forever be associated with BYU and the city of Provo," Chaffetz said. "Rex may be gone, but his life and legacy will never be forgotten."

— Lee Davidson