The Senate has given final approval to renaming a Provo post office in honor of Rex E. Lee, the late U.S. solicitor general and president of BYU.

The Senate approved by unanimous consent late Monday a bill to rename the post office at 936 S. 250 East in Provo as the Rex E. Lee Post Office Building. The House passed the bill last month by voice vote. It now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature.

"This is a very fitting tribute to one of Utah's most outstanding citizens," said Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah. "I had great respect for Rex Lee. He was always well-informed, immensely practical and very funny."

Somewhat ironically, Rex Lee's son, Mike, is considering challenging Bennett for his Senate seat.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah. He said Tuesday, "The memory of Rex E. Lee will forever be associated with BYU and the city of Provo. … Rex may be gone, but his life and legacy will never be forgotten."

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.

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

— Lee Davidson