Born in Wales, Thomas Dee came to Utah, in 1860, with his family, who were Mormon converts. A self-educated man-especially in corporate law, mathematics, and English history-Dee first worked as a carpenter and later as an attorney, a municipal judge, and a vice president of the First National Bank of Ogden. In the last position, he agreed to help the Wattis brothers form a new construction company to complete projects begun by the Corey Brothers Company. In 1900, Dee became Utah Construction's first president, holding 40 shares. Meanwhile, he purchased the Ogden Waterworks for a silver dollar. In 1906, while searching for a water source, Dee and his associates drove up Ogden Canyon one summer day. During the expedition, Dee tumbled into the Ogden River, took a chill, and died a few days later of pneumonia. He was succeeded as president of Utah Construction by his friend David Eccles.