Through estate, alum Lee provides $5 million gift to McCook community

Jim Lee, who earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Nebraska in 1958, led a quiet and unassuming life.

But after his death in early 2023, Lee left a legacy impacting the McCook, Nebraska, community thanks to a $5 million estate gift. The funds will benefit the McCook Community Foundation Fund, McCook YMCA, the Community Hospital Foundation, the McCook Educational Foundation and Overland Trails Council Boy Scouts of America chapter.

Lee was living in Hastings at the time of his death in January but was born and raised in McCook. He served on the McCook YMCA’s board of directors and lived an active lifestyle, cycling and camping throughout his life – even completing a round-trip ride from McCook to New Brunswick, Canada, when he was 62. Total mileage covered in the route exceeded 5,000 miles.

Lee’s engineering career extended from Columbus, Nebraska, as a transmission planning engineer for Nebraska Public Power District west to Utah, where he worked for Moon Lake Electric in Vernal, Utah, and later South Jordan, Utah, before his retirement.