Hey, Memphis! Over the drama? Tired of the negativity? Seriously done with the commenters hating on the city you love?
Then resolve to make 2025 the year to Keep it Tom Lee.
History buffs may remember that Tom Lee was the Memphis river worker who rescued 32 people when their sternwheeler M.E. Norman capsized in the Mississippi River.
Tom Lee carried out the rescue in his small skiff boat, the Zev, even though he couldn’t swim. After he saw the sternwheeler overturn, Tom Lee made trip after trip to bring survivors to shore. Even after dark, he lit the front of the Zev with a lantern and continued rescuing people in the river. Then he built them a fire and notified authorities.
Tom Lee was Black; those he rescued – engineers and their family members – were white. Newspapers reported that some of the white people in the river drowned after refusing help from the Black man.
Newspaper reporters heard about Tom Lee’s bravery from those who had witnessed the event, but journalists had to search him out to report on the story because Tom Lee didn’t seek attention for the miraculous thing he’d done.
That was in 1925, which makes 2025 the 100th anniversary of Tom Lee’s dramatic rescue.
The nonprofit that manages Tom Lee Park and the rest of the riverfront – Memphis River Parks Partnership – is encouraging everyone to embrace the values Tom Lee exhibited that fateful night: courage, generosity and humanity. They’re putting together a year-long 100th anniversary celebration to honor Tom Lee’s memory.
Mayor Paul Young issued a proclamation declaring 2025 Tom Lee 100. Mayor Young’s proclamation details Tom Lee’s dramatic rescue and encourages Memphians to draw inspiration from Tom Lee’s example of unity, selflessness and unwavering commitment to helping others.
Tom Lee Park, on the banks of the Mississippi River Downtown, was named to honor Tom Lee in 1954, two years after his death. The park was expanded to 31 acres in 1991. The new $61 million Tom Lee Park opened Labor Day 2023 to rave local, national and international reviews.
Tom Lee Park is home to A Monument to Listening, a permanent public installation work by Theaster Gates. Commissioned by Memphis River Parks Partnership with support from the Mellon Foundation, A Monument to Listening features 32 functional sculptures made from honed basalt, one for each of the lives Tom Lee saved. Tom Lee’s courageous sacrifice is represented by another towering sculpture made from polished basalt. A Monument to Listening encourages intentional discussions about the truths of race. Tom Lee Park also features a bronze sculpture, the Tom Lee Memorial, by David Alan Clark, which shows Tom Lee committing his historic river rescue.
Tom Lee Park was named one of the top three urban design World Changing Ideas by Fast Company magazine. Since its opening a little more than a year ago, the new Tom Lee Park has drawn 1.6 million visitors.
The Partnership plans a series of activities to encourage people to embrace the values Tom Lee exhibited 100 years ago: courage, generosity and humanity. Tom Lee 100 events will include:
• This is Memphis presented by TVA will kick off Tom Lee 100 with the ultimate celebration of all things Memphis Saturday, Feb. 1, at 6 p.m. at Beale Street Landing. Mingle, dine and drink with leaders and visionaries at the second annual This is Memphis. All proceeds support the Memphis River Parks Partnership’s efforts to keep the riverfront beautiful, welcoming and safe. Get tickets.
• Memphians can snag an exclusive Tom Lee 100 T-shirt by sharing their ideas about what Memphis would look like if everyone were just 1 percent more like Tom Lee, exhibiting courage, generosity and humanity. Beginning Feb. 18 – what would have been Tom Lee’s 140th birthday – the first 100 people to share their ideas on a special board at the riverfront and post about it on social media will receive the free T-shirt.
• Community all-sings starting this spring will bring Memphians together to raise their voices in songs that echo the values of Tom Lee.
• Memphians will be able to take an interactive walking tour of the Tom Lee story on the winding path through Tom Lee Park.
• A commissioned poem by Ed Mabrey, the “GOAT of poetry slam,” will honor Tom Lee 100. Mabrey has won 500 poetry slam competitions, four world championships and six regional competitions.
• A new short film by Last Bite Films will offer an artistic take on Tom Lee’s rescue.
• A parade unlike anything Memphis has ever seen is planned for 901 Day.
• High school students are invited to create original works of spoken word or poetry for the fourth annual Tom Lee Poetry Contest, which opens for submissions Feb. 1.
• A partnership with the Memphis Room at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library will encourage research on Tom Lee’s story.
• On Thursday, May 8, Memphians are encouraged to honor the memory of Tom Lee with a day of service.
• Memphis River Parks Partnership will honor Tom Lee 100 with a family-friendly celebration this summer.
Memphians are encouraged to Keep it Tom Lee throughout 2025, honoring his legacy with acts of courage, generosity and humanity. Watch for more details on these and other Tom Lee 100 events to come.
This blog was written by Kim Cherry
Kim Cherry supports Memphis River Parks Partnership with public relations consulting. She’s a native Memphian and rabid Grizzlies fan who has a remarkable sense of humor, regardless of what her family thinks. I mean, this chick is really funny.
