Distinguished SUU poet and professor retires
The nickname, "the Pig Poet of Paragonah" conjures
up several images of early childhood living on a farm. Images of "slopping
the hogs" and trying to imagine why anyone would want to be called
the Pig Poet, and just how much could one say in rhyming verse about those
creatures is beyond most of us. It doesn't become clear until later that
the "title" and the "subject" of such lyrical observation
really had little to do with one another.
Come January 6, 2003, for the first time in 32 years David Lee will not
be teaching classes at Southern Utah University in Cedar City. He will,
however maintain an office on campus until June. Utah's Poet Laureate,
legendary professor of literature and chair of the English Department
for the past 25 years at SUU recently announced his retirement. "It's
been 32 great years. It's been a great run," said Lee. Among his
many achievements are a dozen books, many teaching awards and nominations
for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award.
Born In Post, Texas, not too far from Midland, Lee pursued interests in
boxing, baseball and the ministry before turning to literature. Upon completion
of his PHD in British Literature from the University of Utah, he accepted
a teaching position in Cedar City at what was then called Southern Utah
State College.
"I went there to spend one year, two at the most," said Lee.
"But one year became another and another. I fell in love with the
school." It was during the early years when Lee commuted from Paragonah
where he raised pigs and began writing verse about life in a rural setting
that he was nicknamed "the Pig Poet of Paragonah." Through his
use of recurring characters such as Ellis, Rufus and LaVerene, Lee painted
his portrait of life in a small town in America. These writings have been
compared to William Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha County and Garrison Keillor's
Lake Wobegon.
When you meet David Lee, you are immediately impressed with his warm engaging
manner and are put at ease by his impeccable southern charm and wit. He
is soft in speech, yet passionate about all he does. These character qualities
are incorporated into his teaching philosophy-be prepared, be passionate
about the material, and show the students you care about them. That care
is reciprocated by his students. Of Lee, one of his students, SUU sophomore
Tiffany Whitney says, "He's one of the most amazing teachers I've
ever had. He's made me love poetry." She credits him with revealing
to her a "whole new world of language. Even though he is retiring,
he's full of life."
Governor Mike Leavitt named Lee Utah's first Poet Laureate on January
24, 1997. Since that time, in addition to performing his duties at SUU,
he has spoken extensively throughout the state and the nation. While receiving
no salary as Poet Laureate, the Utah Arts Council funded his travel expenses
and coordinated his travel schedule for the first two years. He made 50
appearances the first year and 70 the second. He vowed to visit every
high school in Utah-a very worthy goal until funding dried up in 1999.
As his visits in Utah waned, his invitations throughout the country increased
as did his national reputation. Last year, Lee was one of several finalists
being considered to become the Poet Laureate of the United States. Fellow
Texan, First Lady Laura Bush invited him to the National Book Festival
in Washington. From the little dusty panhandle town of Post, Texas, to
a sterling career at SUU positively influencing the lives of literally
thousands of students, to The White House, David Lee has traveled a path
to greatness that few have traveled. His influence and positive voice
will be sorely missed by students, faculty, staff and administration of
Southern Utah University.
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