Wynn Seeks 11th Term as Brentwood Alderman

Lee Wynn has been retired since 1991, but don’t let the term fool you; he’s busier at 77 years old than he’s ever been.

He and his wife, Emily, volunteer one overnight shift each month for USO at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. They help provide food, drinks and places to sleep for soldiers and families at the airport.

“Having two sons in the military, we appreciate having someone look over them,” Lee Wynn said. “We become Grandma and Grandpa, or Mom and Dad, or whatever is needed. At least for a few hours.”

Wynn went through the University of Missouri ROTC program while earning his bachelor’s degree in education and served two years in the U.S. Army. He’s quick to point to a long bloodline of soldiers.

“There’s a lot of history of military in my family,” Wynn said, whose nephew, a former professor at Southeast Missouri State University, traced the family history back to the 1700s.

Lee and Emily also volunteer one Saturday each month in the Bevo Mill neighborhood, where they help with clothing and meal outreach. It’s a ministry they learned about through their church, Destiny Church in Town and Country.

But Wynn stays busiest with his role as a Ward 2 representative on the Brentwood Board of Aldermen; a position he’s held since 1995 and for two extra terms between 1978-82. He and is facing challenger Brandon Wegge.

Wynn’s roots run deep in Brentwood. He left the Army in 1958 and found a job in the Brentwood School District. He taught physical education while coaching baseball and football.

He met Emily at in the 1960s. “That’s the greatest thing that ever happened to me,” he said. “I love her more now than I ever did.” They bought a house in 1970; the same home on Eulalie Avenue where they live today.

Emily worked as a Brentwood elementary school nurse for 20 years, Lee coached three undefeated in the 60s during his 33-year teaching and coaching career, and two sons graduated from Brentwood. Wynn said he serves on the board because it’s his way of giving back to the community.

“I have been so blessed by this city in what it has allowed me to do. It’s taken care of my family,” he said. “I do it because I feel like I need to.”

If re-elected, Wynn hopes to find ways to bring commercial development to Manchester Road. Many buildings are vacant because of flooding issues, while easement and road condition problems persist because the state holds all right-of-way.

He said the city should look to find developers and ask present owners to consider upgrading their properties.

“We can’t do it by ourselves. We have to find somebody,” he said.

He also wants to resolve the ’s future, although he’s hesitant to commit to what the future may hold. He said the city originally planned to build a $16-million facility, but a faltering economy forced the city to look at other options. Now the city must weigh the importance of updating the Brentwood Ice Arena against repaving streets, Wynn said.

He serves on the Public Works Committee that will eventually deliver a recommendation to the rest of the aldermen, and he expects the city to ultimately upgrade the current facility.

Wynn is most proud of the free services provided by the city. He said the expanding commercial base on the north side of Brentwood allows the city to offer things that bring the community together, like the summer concert series and at .

“I think there’s a certain amount of money that the government spends just for their community to be a community; it isn’t bricks and mortar, it may not be salary, but I think some things are necessary,” he said.

Recreation is important to Wynn. A quick scan of a family room wall showed sports newspaper clippings, medals and trophies from his days playing baseball, but nothing shines greater to Wynn than the championship ring on his finger.

He played outfield on the 1954 University of Missouri team that won the College World Series—the only Mizzou team to win the championship—and he was inducted into the Missouri and University of Missouri sports halls of fame.

And he used a sports analogy when explaining that this will be his last campaign, comparing himself to an aging pitcher who retires before losing his fastball.

“This is the last term I’ll run,” Wynn said. “You need to quit before you become ineffective.”

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Lee Wynn
8531 Eulalie Avenue

PERSONAL: Age 77. Married to Emily Wynn, 70. They have three grown sons and five grandchildren.

OCCUPATION: Retired Brentwood school teacher and football and baseball coach.

EDUCATION: Wynn received a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Missouri and a master’s degree in education from Washington University of St. Louis.

RELEVANT BACKGROUND: Wynn has served 10 terms on the Brentwood Board of Aldermen between 1978-82 and 1995 to the present. In that time, he’s served on every major committee. He also went through the ROTC program at the University of Missouri and served two years in the U.S. Army.

Editor's note: A candidate profile of challenger Brandon Wegge will run on Friday.