Courtesy of Howard University Athletic Media Relations
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 11, 2021 – The Howard University Department of Athletics mourns the loss of an important member of its support staff with the recent passing of Anthony “Tony” Lee, who died Monday, Jan.4, due to COVID-19 complications.
Lee was the official voice of Bison Athletics, serving as public address (PA) announcer for the past two years following the death of former legendary PA announcer Shellie Bower, Jr., who died in December 2018.
Lee stepped in and quickly established himself as the new Voice of the Bison, calling all home football, men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball games. He also filled in for men’s & women’s swimming & diving meets.
The highlight of Lee’s tenure at Howard was his selection as the official PA announcer for the 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Championship.
Lee was a native Washingtonian and served as the voice for several local sports organizations, including the District of Columbia Interscholastic Athletic Association (DCIAA).
He worked for the late Mayor Marion Barry and helped create the Summer Youth Leadership Institute. Lee spent over 28 years as a pillar in every community he served—teaching, mentoring, coaching, counseling, and providing encouragement and leadership to young men and women, and to their families.
He also served as a football coach at many award-winning programs in the DMV area, including Ballou Senior High (1991-93), Cardozo Senior High (1993-98), T.C. Williams Senior High (1998-2002), Paul Laurence Dunbar Senior High School (2002-12) and Oxon Hill Senior High (2012-17).
In 1991, Lee graduated from Cheyney (Pa.) after playing football for the Wolves. A decade later, he was inducted into the 2002 Cheyney University Athletics Hall of Fame. He was also an active and proud member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Lee’s services are scheduled for Thursday, January 14 at the Judah Temple AME Zion Church (14500 Mount Oak Road, Bowie, Maryland 20721).
Viewing from 10 a.m. until noon and a private service will be streamed immediately after from noon until 1 p.m. The service will be streamed on the following platforms: www.judahtemple.net; Facebookand YouTube.
