--- title: HR 2098. Lee, Vernon; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr2098 cite_as: HR 2098, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2098 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2098.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2098/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74711 date: 2026-04-02 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2097.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2099.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2098.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 2098 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-04-02 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Matthew Gambill - Steven Meeks - Tyler Smith - Mitchell Scoggins text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR2098/2025 upstream_id: 2141004 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - commendation resolution - gospel music - Georgia House of Representatives - musician recognition --- # HR 2098. Lee, Vernon; commend ## Text House Resolution 2098 By: Representatives Gambill of the 15th, Meeks of the 178th, Smith of the 18th, and Scoggins of the 14th A RESOLUTION Commending Vernon Lee; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, from 1982 to 1985, Vernon Lee served as the drummer for the Rex Nelon Singers of Atlanta, Georgia, formerly the LeFevres, who were inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame; and WHEREAS, he was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1959, the beloved son of Ira and Linda Lee; and WHEREAS, Vernon received his first drum from his grandfather in 1969, and his mother bought him his first drum set a few years later; and WHEREAS, he did not receive formal musical training until college, when he studied music and business at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and spent hours practicing his drumming skills; and WHEREAS, he played and made his first recording with a group in 1977 and spent three years with the Rex Nelon Singers, whose accolades include nominations for Grammy Awards and winning numerous Dove Awards; and WHEREAS, during his distinguished career, Vernon Lee performed with such groups as the Templemen Quartet, the Noblemen Quartet, Fay Sims and The Scenicland Boys, The Impacts, The Telestials, Gold City Quartet, and the Rex Nelon Singers; and WHEREAS, during his time with the Rex Nelon Singers, Vernon played at many venues, including the Grand Ole Opry, Opryland, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Country Music Fan Fare, and the National Quartet Convention, and in 1984, he played at the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Washington, D.C., where President Ronald Reagan addressed the crowd—he later performed for United States Senator and former astronaut John Glenn during his presidential campaign, and Vernon was part of a live recording of a Rex Nelon reunion album and video; and WHEREAS, while touring, he also sat in and played for various groups and artists, including the Cathedrals, the Florida Boys, Jerry Goff, Wendy Bagwell, J.D. Sumner and the Stamps, and others; and WHEREAS, he was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame with the Nelons in 2016 and is an inductee of the 2026 Tri-State Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame for his professional drumming career; and WHEREAS, he was known by other groups and fellow musicians to have the best meter in gospel music during his tenure and for playing "clean"; and WHEREAS, after leaving the group, Vernon served as the drummer at Mt. Paran Church of God in Atlanta, Georgia, for 16 years, and he still plays occasionally and maintains his deep love for music; and WHEREAS, he is united in love and marriage to Maggie and is blessed with two remarkable sons, Ira and Reed. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend Vernon Lee for his outstanding accomplishments and wish him continued success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Vernon Lee. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution commends Vernon Lee, a longtime gospel music drummer known for his work with the Rex Nelon Singers and other groups, for his musical career. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia House of Representatives honoring Vernon Lee, a drummer who performed with the Rex Nelon Singers of Atlanta from 1982 to 1985 and later with other gospel groups. The resolution recounts his musical biography, from receiving his first drum from his grandfather in 1969 through his induction into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame with the Nelons in 2016 and his upcoming induction into the 2026 Tri-State Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame. The resolution does not change any Georgia law. It formally commends Lee for his accomplishments and directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to him. ### What it does - Formally commends Vernon Lee for his career as a gospel music drummer, without altering any Georgia statute. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Vernon Lee. - Recites biographical details about Lee's career, including his time with the Rex Nelon Singers and other gospel groups, as the basis for the commendation. ### Who it affects This resolution directly names and honors Vernon Lee. It has no regulatory effect on other Georgians, businesses, or government agencies; its only administrative action is directing the House Clerk to distribute a copy to Lee. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or policy effect and does not change how any Georgian is governed. Its significance is purely symbolic, marking public recognition by the Georgia House of Representatives of an individual's musical career and achievements. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses recount Vernon Lee's career, including his time with the Rex Nelon Singers from 1982 to 1985 and his 2016 Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame induction. - The resolving clause has the House of Representatives commend Lee for his accomplishments and wish him continued success. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make a copy available for distribution to Vernon Lee. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-04-02) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-04-02) - Sponsors: Matthew Gambill, Steven Meeks, Tyler Smith, Mitchell Scoggins - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74711 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr2098.md?full=1