Catawba County Assistant District Attorney Nancy Lee was recognized as a recipient of the Law Enforcement Commendation and Medal by the Catawba Valley Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).
Lee was presented with the award by SAR Catawba Valley Chapter President Roy Lightfoot during a surprise ceremony Friday, September 26, 2025, at the Catawba County Courthouse in front of family members, DA’s Office colleagues, judicial and law enforcement officials.
In addition, fellow Assistant District Attorney Kyle Smith presented Lee with a flag flown over the state capitol building in Raleigh that was sent by N.C. House Representative Mitchell Setzer.
She will be retiring at the end of 2025 after 30 years as an ADA, having served in Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties, with the bulk of that time spent in the Caldwell office. She was an intern for the DA’s Office at the age of 16, and her mother worked for the office in the late 1980s.
“It’s been a grand 30 years,” Lee said. “I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve stressed a lot. I was born to do this; it’s been a calling for me. My life has had some twists and turns, but in the end, I think God put me where I was supposed to be.”
The national award is given to individuals for exceptional service in law enforcement, including peace officers, attorneys, judges, prosecutors and legislators. The honor recognizes outstanding accomplishments, service with distinction and devotion to duty by the recipient. It measures service beyond what is normally expected.
Those receiving the award typically are nominated by their superiors or peers for performance of an outstanding act or service that goes beyond the normally expected duties of their profession. Lee was nominated by fellow Catawba County ADA Kyle Smith.
A staunch advocate for justice, a voice for the voiceless and a forerunner in prosecuting death by distribution drug cases, Lee began her lengthy and distinguished career as a prosecutor in 1995 in Caldwell County after she received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed her law degree at North Carolina Central University in Durham.
The SAR award is the second prestigious honor bestowed upon Lee in the last three months. She was awarded the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism Award at the summer conference of District Attorneys held in Wilmington, N.C., June 16-18, 2025. That award recognized years of service and professional excellence as an assistant district attorney and for “treating others with dignity and respect as everyone would like to be treated.”
The SAR also presents commendation medals for Fire Safety and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). There is also a Life Saving Commendation Medal awarded for acts of saving a human life.