Milford chronicle., 1957-07-26
Col. Lee To Quit AS
Civil Defense Head

Col. ID. Preston Lee, state direc-
tor of Civil Defense, submitted his
resignation from the top state CD
post, effective August Is, in n let
ter recently to Gov. j. Caleb Boggs.
The Governor had not yet re-
ceived the letter as the Chronicle
went to press, but said that If the
resignation had been submitted, he
would have no choice but to ac-
cept it with regrets that he Colo
mel Lee) finds it necessary to re-
sign and with appreciation of his
fine and outstanding service"
In his letter to the Governor,
Colonel Lee wrote:
After serving for over seven
years as State Director of Civil De-
fense. ! now find it necessary to
resign for personal reasons and
ask that my resignation be accept
ed with an effective date of August
10, 1857.
1T has been my task to develop
a Civil Defense organization in line
with the realities and requirements
of the Nuclear Age. l have given
my full attention, energy and abili-
ty to this task. A detail of my ac-
complishments can be found in the
written plans and programs of the
Agency. personally look back
over these years with a feeling OF
satisfaction for the visible progress
made-as, for example, the estab-
lishment of a statewide organiza-
tion, statewide attack warning
system, a statewide communica-
tions system which includes that
of the fire companies and of the
State Highway Department; the
construction of one of the finest
Control Centers in the United
States; and the high regard in
which the Delaware Department
of Civil Defense is held outside its
borders by other states, and by the
Federal Civil Defense Administra-
tiOn.
"The primary requirement of
any Civil Defense program is a
staff Of competent personnel. have
been fortunate, indeed, in assem-
bling an intelligent, dedicated,
hard-wOrking group of full time
employees. Other State Agencies
have supplemented our staff with
their personnel and have been most
helpful. Above all else, / appreciate
most deeply the assistance and
cooperation given by those who
have volunteered their services
many of whom have served con-
tinuOusly since 1850.
Il am satisfied in my own mind
that within the restrictive frame
work in which il exists. | am leav-
ing our State Civil Defense organi-
zatiOn on a firm foundation. It's
mission is now clearly defined and
it is moving steadily towards the
accomplishment of that mission.
Even now, further necessary
changes i'm organization and opera
tiOu to meet new enemy capabili-
ties are in prospect With the gem
eral guidance of your excellent
Civil Defense Advisory Council,
which has been extremely helpful
to- me, progress shall continue and
these new challenges will be alb
sOrbed and the maximum prOtec-
tiOB against a serious disaster will
continue t1 be provided for the peO-
pie of our State.
These seven years OF building
q defense for the civil population
in this age of new weapons of un-
believable destructive power, has
been a pioneering venture into an
untried and unchartercd field. II
has consequently been a cOmpli
Gated. involved operation that has
produced more than its share Of
Illustrations. / have tried with all
10 keep my sights set at all time
on it's ultimate obiectives and rea-
son for being the preparation anG
conditioning of our people for atom
ic war. | have looked upon my
work i'm Civil Defense as a public
service. Though the visible rewards
are few, | have found n full mea
sure of satisfaction in the chal-
lcngc of developing a Civil Defense
program for Delaware second tC
none. How we'll l have succeeded
is, of course, for others to deter
mine.
"One of the greatest satisfactiOns
/ have had, has been the OppoT-
tunity and pleasure of working
with you, Governor BOggs. and
hope that the record will always