Brigadier General Robert E. Lee was born in Scranton, South Carolina on September 25, 1902 and completed his medical training at the Medical college of South Carolina in 1928. He completed his general surgery residency in 1932 and became a member of US Army. In 1949, he joined US Air Force Medical Service and rose to the rank of brigadier general and retired in March 1959. General Lee played an important role in promoting the policies and ideals of the Society of Air Force Clinical Surgeons throughout his active and retired life. After going through years of transformation from 1950 to 1958, the Society of Air Force Clinical Surgeons was formally chartered in 1958 at Lackland Air Force Base, TX. General Lee was voted as its first president unanimously as the Senior Air Force Surgeon in US Air Force Medical Corps.
The 2nd Place award for the General Surgery Session is given in the honor of General Lee.