Jimmy Lee

Jimmy Lee was entered in the 1908 Olympic marathon but did not start. From the Boston suburb of Roxbury, he was described in press reports of the time as “flaxen-haired.” Lee first ran the Boston Marathon in 1907 and led the race through Wellesley, about 10 miles, eventually finishing fifth. He was sixth at Boston in 1908, which led to his selection for the London Olympics. In the brutally hot 1909 Boston race Lee again led, this time through 20 miles while alongside Sammy Mellor, but the heat broke Lee down and he did not finish.

Lee later settled near New York city, where he organized the annual Yonkers Marathon for many years as director of the Yonkers Recreation Commission, a post he retired from in 1955. He was also director of the Hollywood Inn Athletic Association in Yonkers.

Personal Best: Marathon – 2-28:34 (1908).