Harry Lee often called himself the closest thing there was to a king in the United States.

Sheriff Harry Lee

It's the kind of bold and brash statement we came to expect from the larger-than-life Sheriff.

Jefferson Parish voters first elected him to that post in 1979; and then re-elected him five more times.

Always colorful; often controversial - Lee was one of Louisiana's most popular politicians; one with humble beginnings.

The son of Chinese immigrants, he was born 1932 in the "back room" of his parents' laundry.

A popular student, he was elected president of his class at Nicholls High School; and at LSU classmates voted him most likely to succeed.

His early jobs would include work in his family's restaurants, including the iconic "House of Lee" in Metairie.

And it was while lobbying for the restaurant association in Washington that Lee met his mentor, Hale Boggs.

The congressman encouraged Lee to enter law school and with Boggs' backing, Lee became a federal magistrate in 1971.

Then in 1979, the man who campaigned as the Chinese cowboy was elected sheriff in Jefferson Parish.

During his three decades in office, fighting crime earned him support while his comments about race often earned him criticism.

But throughout it all Jefferson Parish voters showed that they loved Harry Lee.

He tried to parlay that support into state politics - running for governor.

But it was in Jefferson Parish where he'd make his mark with popularity ratings that every politician would envy.

In recent years, even before his battle with leukemia, Harry Lee's health also made headlines.

After battling his weight for years, the sheriff underwent surgery for weight loss, and to replace his hips and knees.

Despite his recent battle with the disease that took his life, Harry Lee never thought twice about running for sheriff one more time.

“Whether they walk me to the qualifying table or whether they carry me – I’m running,” he said.

Lee is survived by his wife and daughter.

Harry lee

1932 - 2007