After 27 years as Frontier League Commissioner, Bill Lee is stepping down from the position and assuming the role of Commissioner Emeritus effective March 1, 2020, serving as a consultant for the league and attending league functions.
“It has been my honor to serve the Frontier League for more than a quarter of a century,” Lee said via press release. “It is very gratifying to see how the league has grown to 16 teams and has a partnership with Major League Baseball. I will always treasure the many relationships that were formed over the years with league staff, owners, front office members, managers, coaches, umpires, media, broadcasters and other members of our industry. I mostly want to thank all of the players and fans that truly built the league.”
“Bill Lee has done an outstanding job managing and growing the Frontier League,” said League President John Stanley via press release. “The league owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Bill for his 27 years of service, and it’s safe to say the League would not exist in it’s present form without Bill’s leadership and hard work”.
After graduating from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a degree in Mass Communications, Lee played in the Atlanta Braves organization and the independent Lone Star League. He then worked for the Birmingham Barons as Assistant General Manager and Public Relations Director before moving on to become the General Manager of the Chattanooga Lookouts.
While with the Lookouts, Lee was the Southern League’s Executive of the Year in 1989. Just before joining the Frontier League, he was the Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for the Seattle Thunderbirds Hockey Club in the Western Hockey League. Lee was chosen as Marketing Executive of the Year of that League in 1991.
The Frontier League will begin a search for a replacement immediately.