Tommy Lee and Bobby Cleggett

Tommy Lee and Bobby Cleggett

Shaking hands in this photograph are, on the left, Tommy Lee, while on the right is Bobby Cleggett. Robert W. "Bob" Cleggett, Sr. was born in 1941, was a graduate of Fort Hill High School, and passed away in 2005.

Tommy Lee's father was Major Thomas Lee, a well-known area musician who is depicted playing the piano elsewhere on this website. His grandfather was Major T. Lee who was the subject of the following excerpt from Cumberland, Maryland Through the Eyes of Herman Miller:

"On May 19, 1920, Major T. Lee, a local black boxer, died in Wheeling, West Virginia at 7:10 AM as the result of over-exertion during a semi-final bout in Wheeling Tuesday night with Battling Bob Holmes, also of Cumberland. Lee was carried out of the ring unconscious and after his removal to the hospital it was found a blood vessel had burst in Lee's head.

Lee was a well-known porter of this City. For more than a year he was head porter at the Fort Cumberland Hotel, but had been more recently associated with the Plaza Hotel. He was also good at clog dancing and singing and took part in many local black performances.

On May 20th, Robert "Battling" Holmes was exonerated by a coroner's jury in Wheeling and released from custody. On May 22nd funeral services for Major T. Lee were held. The Black Elks had charge of the services. Burial was in Sumner Cemetery. Fourteen local taxicab owners offered one car each for the funeral."

Major T. Lee's grandson, Major Tommy Lee, depicted above, went on to a career in the military. He retired from the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry as a sergeant-major after 31 years, six months, and 19 days of service.