Historic Marker to honor Eagle Rock native Norvel Lee, Olympic Gold Medalist

A new historical marker in the northern end of Botetourt would honor Norvel LaFollette Ray Lee, a former Eagle Rock native who won an Olympic gold medal in boxing at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki. Lee also won a landmark civil rights suit in 1949 regarding segregation of passengers on trains, fought in the South Pacific in World War II and retired from the U.S. Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1982, and was active in boxing and other community activities until his death in 1992 in Bethesda, MD.

The marker would be located near the US 220 and Rt. 622 intersection in the Gala area, about two miles from Lee’s original home, Amsterdam Supervisor Steve Clinton told the Board at its August 24, 2021 meeting.

Ken Conklin, author a book about Lee, gave the Supervisors a detailed history of the man before the supervisors approved the resolution requesting the marker.

A historical marker costs about $2,000, Clinton said. Donations earmarked for the placement have already been received and any cost to the county should be minimal, he said.

                                                            — Anita Firebaugh, Special to The Botetourt Bee