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Marion Lee was born June 17, 1934 in West Point, New York, and was the youngest of two older brothers. At that time, her father was serving in the military and was an instructor at West Point. Marion’s family resided in Charlottesville, Virginia while her father served in Europe during World War II. She started riding at age 8 with Ellie Wood Page Keith at Keithwood Stables on Bollingwood Road near the University of Virginia. Throughout her father’s career the family lived in various places including Frankfort, Kentucky, Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, and Heidelberg, Germany. Marion attended high school in Germany although she graduated in 1952 in Charlottesville, Virginia, when her family returned to the States.
Marion had the privilege of riding with Captain Vladimir Littauer when she attended Mary Washington College as an English major. The riding program, under the direction of Russ Walther Sr., often invited Captain Littauer for clinics. This was Marion’s first introduction to Littauer’s forward riding system.
After graduating from Mary Washington College in 1952, Marion pursued her interest in horses. She had an offer to work at St. Timothy’s School in Stevenson, Maryland, but decided instead to work for Janet H. Carter, Master of Foxhounds for the Groton Hunt in Massachusetts. Janet Carter is the author of “The Complete Test for Hunters” published in 1959 and was also mentioned in one of Littauer’s books. There she schooled young horses and exercised hunters to keep them fit.
Marion enjoyed her time with the hunt club until she received an invitation from Jane Marshall Dillon inviting her to teach at Full Cry Farm in Vienna, Virginia. Marion did not hesitate to embrace a new riding and teaching career with someone so notable. She remained one of the resident instructors for over eight years and was honored to be a featured rider in Jane Marshall Dillon’s book, “Form Over Fences: A Pictorial Critique of Jumping for Junior Riders”. In 1965, she was asked to become the head instructor but at that time decided to move on.
Marion took a computer course and landed a job in the computer industry, working for Sperry Univac and later Planning Research Corporation. While working, she had the opportunity to travel and enjoyed skiing and playing tennis. Marion continued to serve on the ANRC board in various roles over many years. She judged three ANRC National Equitation Championships: in 1978 with Melanie Smith, 1982 with Michael Page, and in 1985 with Edna Lytle.
“Marion has been a solid presence for many of us who have had leadership roles with the ANRC over the many years. I feel quite sure that our ability to remain intact as an organization has been because of her work and support” — Jill Randles, currently serving as ANRC Board Director-at-Large
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