COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Dec. 11, 2019) – Jon Lee has played an integral role within USA Volleyball’s leadership at both the national and regional level, including developing processes to help ensure athlete safety well before other governing bodies started mandating such components.
For his three decades of involvement with USA Volleyball, Lee has been selected to receive the 2020 Harold T. Friermood “Frier” Award, USA Volleyball’s top honor bestowed on an individual for lifetime achievements. He will be inducted into the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame presented at the Dorothy C. Boyce Banquet on May 20, 2020, in Minneapolis along with 19 other Hall of Fame selectees in categories honoring players, coaches, officials and other leaders within the sport.
“It’s been truly a rewarding experience to volunteer to assist and work with so many devoted people, growing the sport of volleyball, to see the historic changes in the sport and organization, to enjoy the fruits of our efforts, and the fellowship of so many athletes and participants,” Lee said. “I am humbled to be recognized by USA Volleyball as a Frier recipient.”
Lee, a lawyer by trade, has used his professional skills to assist the Evergreen Region Volleyball Association (ERVA) and USA Volleyball since 1989. Lee established a due process procedure within the ERVA and later was designated as the ERVA ethics and compliance officer from 1993 to 1996. Lee moved into the Evergreen Region commissioner role from 1996 to 2008. As commissioner, he established and updated the Regional Due Process procedure, which serves as the template for several other regions.
Lee’s leadership helped found the Pacific Northwest Junior Girls’ Championship Qualifier held in the Spokane area. He was at the forefront of the region’s background screening process, which laid the groundwork for the USA Volleyball national background screening policy. Lee also assisted in the establishment of the Puget Sound Volleyball Region. He currently serves on both the ERVA and Pacific Northwest Qualifier boards.
Lee also made an impact at the national level by serving on the USA Volleyball Board of Directors from 2000 to 2014. He was vice president of the Regional Operations Division (now known as Regional Volleyball Association Assembly) from 2004 to 2008. During Lee’s leadership of the Regional Operations Division, he was instrumental in drafting and updating the current USAV redistricting policy, introducing and directing the passage of the USAV background screening policy, assisting in the initial Event Arbitrator program for which he is the current chair and implementing due process at national events. Lee continues to serve as chair of both corporate and ERVA ethics and eligibility committees.