He has certainly played more first-class games for the province than anyone, he has coached just about every representative team there isto coach in the region and was even the chief executive fora stint during the late 1980sand early 1990s.
His long service was acknowledged in 2007 when Lees was made a life member of the Otago Cricket Association.
Now the association is planning on roasting him, Graham Norton-style.
The OCA is calling it a tribute but it has drafted in former Australian cricketer Dean Jones to help create the right atmosphere for the event dubbed "A night with cricketing greats''.
Former Otago manager Horace McAuley, White Ferns and Otago Sparks captain Suzie Bates and former New Zealand cricketer Mark Greatbatch are also on the bill.
"I hope it is not like becoming a patron and then they put you out to pasture for the rest of your life,'' Lees joked.
No chance of that.
The 63-year-old has coached the Sparks for the past four seasons and is keen to stay on next summer.
Lees was in a jovial mood yesterday but he had to fight back the tears when he was made a life member nine years ago.
"Next to my family, cricket has been the most important part of my life,'' Lees said at the time.
He played 108 first-class games for Otago, scoring 3754 runs at an average of 25.36.
He also made 220 catches, took 36 stumpings and led Otago to double glory in the Shell Trophy and Shell Cup in the 1987-88 season.
He went on to play 21 tests for New Zealand and has coached both the men's and women's national sides.
It is quite a curriculum vitae.
Lees made his first appearance for Otago as an 11-year-old at the South Island primary schools tournament.
"There has not been one year where I have not been playing or coaching [a team from the region] since,'' he said.
"I think I'm more proud of that than anything else.''
OCA chief executive Mike Coggan said retired broadcaster and former Otago player Iain Gallaway, former Otago left-arm spinner Stephen Boock and New Zealand great Glenn Turner have previously been recognised in similar fashion for their services to cricket in the region.
The event will be held at the Savoy on April 9.
