A member of America's "Greatest Generation", Charles Lee was born on September 27, 1927 in Opelika, Alabama. After serving his country in World War II, he graduated from Opelika High School and entered Auburn University. Upon graduation from Auburn, Charles worked at Reeltown High School for one year. In 1956, he started the wrestling program at Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City, where he would earn the title "Father of Alabama High School Wrestling". Beginning in 1959, his teams would reel off 11 straight state championships. He would compile a 196-5 dual meet record, and also win five Alabama-Georgia interstate meet titles. Charles coached 82 individual state champions totaling 106 first place finishes, and hundreds of state placers. He was an ambassador for the sport - traveling throughout the south promoting the wrestling, helping schools start wrestling programs, and serving as a mentor to many young coaches. An outstanding classroom history teacher, he also spent time as a baseball coach, and was head football coach for eight years compiling a 56-26-2 record. After earning a M.S. in school administration and leaving the coaching ranks, Charles served as principal at Lineville High School for 19 years. He retired in 1993 after a 38 year career in education. He was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1995. Charles and his wife, Barbara, have four children, Jenny, Steve, Donna, and Ken; six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Coach Lee passed away on May 28, 2010.