Bill Lee - 50th Governor of Tennessee

William Byron Lee was born on October 9, 1959, in Franklin, Tennessee, where he continues to reside with his wife, Maria, on their family farm. A seventh-generation Tennessean, Lee is the father of four adult children—Jessica, twin sons Jacob and Caleb, and Sarah Kate—and has eleven grandchildren.

Before entering politics, Lee was a prominent businessman and mechanical engineer. He joined the Lee Company, a comprehensive mechanical construction service company founded by his grandfather in 1944, following his graduation from college. He held various positions within the family business before becoming president and CEO in 1992. During his tenure as company leader, Lee was named "Most Admired CEO" by the Nashville Business Journal in 2015, and the Lee Company was recognized by The Tennessean as the best large company to work for three years in a row.

Governor Lee and First Lady Maria are people of strong faith and are active in faith-based ministries globally, including work in Africa, Haiti, Central America, and the Middle East.

Education

Lee attended Williamson County Schools before pursuing higher education at Auburn University, where he studied Mechanical Engineering.

Political Experience

Lee was elected as the 50th Governor of Tennessee in 2018 and was sworn in on January 19, 2019. He made history as the first Tennessee Republican to succeed a Republican governor since 1869.

As Governor, Lee has prioritized workforce development, quality education, economic development, public safety, and support for families, with particular emphasis on rural Tennessee transformation. Under his leadership, Tennessee has achieved the fastest-growing economy among all 50 states, the lowest tax burden in the nation, and a strong business climate that has attracted major companies including Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Oracle, and others. His administration has created more than 170,000 jobs and generated $32 billion in capital investment since 2019.

Key legislative achievements include passing the largest tax cut in Tennessee history, the largest teacher pay raise in state history, strengthening career and technical training programs, expanding school choice, and securing a record $1 billion investment in public education. Additionally, Governor Lee has pursued criminal justice reform and worked to address the opioid epidemic.