Quick Facts
- Date: May 8, 1925
- Location: Mississippi River, just south of Memphis, Tennessee
- Key Figures: Tom Lee (1885–1952); passengers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers steamboat M.E. Norman
- What Happened: The M.E. Norman capsized during a sightseeing trip; Tom Lee, in his small motorboat Zev, rescued 32 people despite not knowing how to swim
- Confirmed Toll: 23 passengers and crew drowned
Main Story
On the afternoon of May 8, 1925, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers steamboat M.E. Norman capsized on the Mississippi River just south of Memphis during a sightseeing excursion. Tom Lee, a 39‑year‑old river worker, came upon the disaster in his motorboat, the Zev. Working into the night, he pulled survivors from the swift current and ferried them to safety, ultimately saving 32 lives. Contemporary records note the Norman had 72 people aboard that day, underscoring the scale of Lee’s actions. Multiple archival sources confirm the rescue count and the tragic loss of 23 lives. They also record that Lee could not swim—a detail that has shaped how Memphians understand the magnitude of his bravery.
In the months that followed, Memphis recognized Lee’s heroism in tangible ways. The Engineers Club of Memphis raised funds to purchase a home for Tom and Margaret Lee at 923 North Mansfield. City leaders also offered him steady work with the sanitation department. Lee’s recognition extended beyond Memphis: he was honored at the White House by President Calvin Coolidge. These acknowledgments, preserved in university archives and civic records, cemented his place in Memphis history and the broader 901 story.
Legacy
Two years after Lee’s death in 1952, the riverfront greensward at the foot of Beale Street was renamed Tom Lee Park (1954) and marked with a granite obelisk. That memorial was toppled by storms in 2003 and again in 2017. In 2006, the UrbanArt Commission installed a bronze memorial by sculptor David Alan Clark depicting Lee’s lifesaving act. Today, Tom Lee Park remains a civic space on the riverfront where residents and visitors reflect on courage, community, and the enduring values that define the Bluff City.
For readers exploring Memphis history, Beale Street’s riverfront and Tom Lee Park offer a direct connection to one of the city’s most selfless moments—an act that continues to inspire how Memphis shows up for one another.
Leave a Reply