Homer Eugene Lee, “Gene” to most, an icon in the mushing annals of Minnesota and Wisconsin, passed away November 18, 2018, at the age of 83 of cancer at his home in Westminster, South Carolina. A friend to many and a legend to most, Gene was born in Seneca, South Carolina, on November 2, 1935. He dropped out of school before graduating to join his father in the upholstery business. In 1958 he enlisted in the Army where he was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska. It was here that he met the love of his life, Molly, who was originally from Minnesota. They stayed in Alaska for a while after Gene got out of the Army, and this is where Gene also was introduced to sled dogs, acquiring some Siberian huskies from Earl Norris, a renowned breeder. He worked with the huskies recreationally. He also had a black lab, Bosco, who became not only the beloved family pet but also a trusted leader. Gene and Molly’s son David and daughter Bonnie were born at this time. In a short time, Gene had acquired quite a “family.”

The Lees packed their belongings in 1961 to come to Minnesota. Gene drove the Alcan – with his Buick packed with Bosco, household things, and a quarter moose and salmon strapped to the top. Molly and the two kids flew. Gene figured that there wouldn’t be any mushing in the gopher state, so he had sold the huskies but kept Bosco, of course. But he was dead wrong about there being no mushing in Minnesota. There was, indeed, a small contingent of sleddog enthusiasts in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area, and Gene “found” them in a rather unorthodox way. Good friend Denny Hitchcock recalls this first meeting with Gene, sometime around 1962 or 1963, on the trail … in a dog fight between their two teams, the result of a head-on pass gone bad. This wasn’t the most auspicious way to be introduced to a fellow musher! But he and Denny began a life-long friendship on this trail after sorting out their teams. Gene had a team of black labs back then, which he eventually mixed with huskies. From this beginning, Gene fell in with the other Minnesota mushers, the likes of John Weber, John Cooper, Mabell Hill, et al. He later found out about the first St. Paul Winter Carnival sled dog race in 1966 on Lake Phalen and entered his team of black labs, taking 6th place.

Lee was considered one of the “old timers” of the Minnesota race circuit, maintaining and racing a team for many years. His dogs meant the world to him, and his excellent care and training of them was a testament to his devotion. He finally hung up his harnesses and gangline in the early 2000s, around 2004. Racing in the 10-dog class or unlimited class, his name is in almost every St. Paul Winter Carnival results list since 1966 as well as the results of many other Minnesota and Wisconsin races, i.e., Ely, Bemidji, Brainerd, Cannon Falls, Land O’ Lakes, Bayfield, Shawano, Wausau. In the 1970s he passed the mushing torch to his son David, and both show up in race results lists. Eventually the torch was passed to David’s son Jeremy.

Gene stood the test of time and was known for his sportsmanship, dedication, and perseverance, qualities necessary to keep and train a competitive team. He was always available for good conversation and advice, complete with his distinctive South Carolina drawl. Denny Hitchcock recalls when his (Denny’s) sister was killed in a car accident many years ago. Gene and his wife Molly came to the visitation, and, in an ironic twist to a very solemn occasion, Gene, with his Southern drawl, had everyone laughing up a storm to his stories of the illegal moonshining and outrunning the “revenuers” (federal agents) by his relatives in the hills of South Carolina. He was the consummate storyteller!

And Gene’s home was always open to anyone interested in sled dogs. His kindness and good will were hallmarks of his character. Musher Steve Bergemann of St. Croix Falls, WI, remembers Gene for his good advice, especially when he and his wife Judy were just getting started. Gene was always in a good mood, always laughing; he had a wonderful sense of humor. Former musher Joe Cappuccino most remembers Gene for never having a bad or negative word to say about anyone. Joe fondly recalls Gene’s panacea: bag balm, originally a bovine ointment that Gene claimed cured most any canine malady. Charlie Gould, also a fellow competitor in the sport, recalls Gene’s dog truck and the “Homer’s Hounds” label on the back of the dog boxes. To Gould, “Homer” Lee was one of a kind, unique.

Gene was an active member of Minnesota’s North Star Sled Dog Club (NSSDC) and helped put on races. One can hardly forget the cold winter back in the ’80s when he frostbit his ear lobes putting in the trail for the St. Paul Winter Carnival race on White Bear Lake. He had forgotten to pull his beanie cap over his lobes and paid the price.

North Star Sled Dog Club had a tradition of awarding the John Weber Memorial Trophy, given annually to the musher who exemplified the best traditions of the sport. Named in honor of John Weber, who was killed in Vietnam and whom Gene knew, the trophy was an exquisitely carved piece of California redwood by Mel Fishback Riley of Montana. Gene was honored as the recipient of this trophy six times, and his son David received it twice. David’s son Jeremy was a recipient one time. All the Lees were known for their kindness and sportsmanship.

Gene operated an upholstery business in Pine City, Minnesota, specializing in auto and boat vehicle interiors, and eventually his son (and later his grandson, Jeremy) joined in the business. In 2013 the family, including David and his family, moved back to South Carolina with the business near to where he grew up. Unfortunately, his wife and love of his life Molly died in 2017. Gene was ready to be reunited with her when he became ill. He will be sorely missed among the mushing circles and by his family. But his memory will always be alive. Son David feels fortunate in having been able to have such a close relationship with his father, a result of working so closely with him in both mushing and the upholstery business. Not many sons get to spend so much meaningful time with their dads.

Gene was predeceased by his wife Molly and his parents. He is survived by his three children, David (Joleen) of South Carolina, daughters Bonnie and Marti Reinke of Minnesota; and four grandchildren, David’s two, Jeremy and Adam, and Marti’s two, Cody and Alyssa. He will be cremated and his ashes, along with those of his wife Molly, will be scattered in Lake Superior’s North Shore, which was a favorite vacation place for the Lee family.