Richard Michael Lee

Richard was born in Shelby, Ohio. He moved to Tampa at three months old and considered Tampa his home. His parents divorced in 1958. In his younger years, he lived in numerous states and cities and attended many different schools – wherever his father’s work took them. In the early 60’s, he lived with close family on a farm in Starke, Florida, eventually returning to Tampa as a teenager to his father’s home in the Palmetto Beach area. While living in Palmetto Beach, he created strong bonds with neighborhood friends that continued until his passing. Many have passed away before him.

Richard graduated from Jefferson High School in 1966. After graduating, he became an apprentice welder and rigger with the Boilermaker Union Local 433. He enjoyed working not only throughout Florida but also throughout the southeast and northeast. He was a member of the Union’s Leap Committee which took him to D.C. on many occasions. He served in several official capacities over his 35 year membership. In 1980-1985, he was the Assistant Business Agent for Local 433 working alongside his father. In 1981, he became a member of the Tampa York Rite Freemasonry and also became an Egypt Temple Shriner. In 2002, he retired from the Union at 53 years old due to back surgery. He had many longtime friendships in the Union that continue to the present. In his later years, he loved talking with friends about his past work. He had an extraordinary memory recalling past events and became a great storyteller as he grew older.

Richard met his soulmate and love of his life, Margie, in February 1967 while driving his new car through the Frisch’s Big Boy Restaurant in Tampa – each driving identical brand new cars, Buick GS-400s. Years later he would jokingly say that he was only looking at the car. He would continue to repeat this story for more than 50 years to anyone who would ask about how the two had met.

Richard’s extraordinary life story now begins as witnessed by Margie, his daughter, Rachel, and granddaughter, Jordan, and many longtime, close friends …

Richard was drafted in 1968, stationed in Ft. Benning, Georgia. In December 1969, he had orders to go to Viet Nam. He and Margie were married three weeks later on December 28, 1969 and he left for Viet Nam 25 days later in January 1970. He served in the 199th Infantry Brigade, Echo Company, 3rd Battalion in a mortar platoon among other assignments in Laos and Cambodia. In July 1970, during his brief R&R vacation in Hawaii, he was joined by Margie, his mother, and mother-in-law. He returned safely back home in October 1970. The experiences he encountered in Viet Nam left him with deep emotional scars, the invisible kind, that continued throughout the years. He remained somewhat quiet for many, many years about his service time in Viet Nam. In later years, he would open up, at times, and begin sharing some of those memories. Some might be good but, understandably, not so good. Again, he was a great storyteller to anyone who would listen.

During the mid-70s, Richard signed up at the Naturite Gym along with his longtime friend, Ronnie Favata. He became motivated to become a bodybuilder. After years of dedication, his physique changed drastically. He began entering physique contests and earned his first bodybuilding award for first place for “Novice Mr. Southern States 1975,” followed by a first place award for “Mr. Tampa 1975,” and then another award as second place for “Mr. Southern States 1975.” Looking back at these photos 50 years later … who is this man in these photos?

Richard’s primary home(s) were in Forest Hills in north Tampa. He also owned a vacation home on Little Gasparilla Island on the Gulf from 1995-2014. The island home was perfect for fishing and family gatherings, including many friends who spent time on LGI. In 2017, he moved to a six acre home in Dover, Florida. He has a horse (Sweet Melissa named after one of Greg Allman’s songs). He has two dogs – Savannah (a lab mix) and Skeeter (an English Springer Spaniel – his 5th Springer). He loved his dogs and they are a part of his family. Both of them returned that love and affection and look for him every day to return home.

Richard grew up during the 60s and 70s. He absolutely loved to listen to music from that period of time. His #1 song artist is Greg Allman/Allman Brothers Band and many other song artists of that same period. He loved getting in his car just driving around town listening to his music. His most recent song artist was Adele – so he was progressing somewhat.

Richard was no different than a majority of men wanting their toys to play with. He absolutely loved his toys over the years – Harley Davidson motorcycles, boats, cars, and most recently vintage Corvettes.

Richard’s #1 hobby was fishing – definitely fishing. This is how his time was spent on Little Gasparilla Island. He also fished in the Florida Keys and Costa Rica – catching his first Marlin and Sailfish. His #2 hobby was cars. He had a bucket list which included not only traveling, but also buying vintage Corvettes. He would brag about the cars he owned over the years. He would jokingly tell his granddaughter, Jordan, letting her know that he was going to spend all of his money, but at least she would have his cars to sell. Richard’s #3 hobby was traveling. Over his 75 years he traveled to many cities and states. He also traveled to Japan, Hawaii, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. His most recent travel plans were to western Europe and recently planned travel to Greece in September 2023. He bragged about his travels, too, telling anyone who would listen about his experiences while visiting other countries.

He continued to be a storyteller over the years. It could be about his immediate family, or working in the Boilermakers, or his service in Viet Nam, the cars he owned, the boats he owned, or his travels, and so on. He remembered everything in great detail from years past. He just had an excellent memory. As he got older, his storytelling would turn to his surgeries that he had over the years – comparing the types and numbers of surgeries he had with other friends who also had surgeries. It seemed to turn into a contest by counting the number of surgeries and scars each of them had, what part of the body was affected, and who had more – which became comical listening to him talking about it.

Richard played hard most of his life and enjoyed every minute of it. If he wanted to buy something or travel somewhere, there was no stopping him – he did exactly what he wanted to do. There were happy times and sad times, good times as well as bad times. He lived life to the fullest. He definitely had an extraordinary and amazing life.

Richard is preceded in death by his father, Tezze J. Lee; mother, Juanita T. Davis; and sister, Wanda J. League. He is survived by his wife, Margie Lee; daughter, Rachel Lee; granddaughter, Jordan Onken (Matthew); great granddaughters, Rylee (12) and Maverick (4); special cousin, Steve Benke; sisters Angie Fry and Rhonda Bulford (Johnny); nieces Andrea Jordan (Mike), Crista League, Jenna Key, and Ally Hilton (J.D.); nephews Johnny Bulford III (Heidi) and Scott Dowdy (Robin), and many great nieces and nephews.

An informal gathering of family and friends will be Saturday, February 25, 2023, any time from 12-4 pm at Blount & Curry Funeral Home, 3207 West Bearss Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33618.