J. R. E. Lee

John Robert Edward Lee Sr. (January 26, 1864 – April 6, 1944)[1][2] was an early leader in African-American education.

In 1891, he returned to Bishop to spend the next decade there as a faculty member, serving as Dean of Men and Professor of history, mathematics, and Latin.

After two years, he left to become professor of mathematics at Benedict College, but returned to Tuskegee as Director of the Academic Department in 1905.

He was able to obtain greater salaries for teachers and administrators despite the statement of Florida Governor Fred P. Cone that "no Negro was worth $4000 a year".

[2] By the end of Lee's tenure, "FAMU had constructed 48 buildings, accumulated 396 acres of land, and had 812 students and 122 staff members.