Junius Ralph Magee was abishop of theMethodist Episcopal Church andThe Methodist Church, elected in 1932.
He was born 3 June 1880 inMaquoketa, Iowa, the son of John Calvin and Jane Amelia (Cole) Magee. Junius married Harriet Ammie Keeler 10 September 1902. They had two children: J. Homer and Dorothy J. Mrs. Magee died in October 1943.
Junius was educated at theIowa State Teachers College, earning theB.Di. degree in 1901. He continued his education atMorningside College, earning thePh.B. degree in 1904. He then entered theBoston University School of Theology, earning theS.T.B. degree in 1910. Junius was a member of the honorary fraternitiesPi Gamma Mu andPi Kappa Delta.
Bishop Magee was awarded theLL.D. degree in 1931 by his alma mater, Morningside College. Upper Iowas University honored him with theD.D. degree in 1921. TheCollege of Puget Sound awarded him theL.H.D. in 1932.
Rev. Magee wasordained in theM.E. Church in 1906. He served the following appointments inIowa: Rustin Ave. inSioux City (1902–04);Paullina (1904–07). Rev. Magee then served these appointments inMassachusetts:Falmouth (1907–11); First Church,Taunton (1911–14);Daniel Dorchester Memorial Church,Boston (1914–19); St. Mark's Church,Brookline (1919–21). Rev. Magee then transferred toWashington state, where he served these appointments: First Church,Seattle (1921–28); then Superintendent of the Seattle District (1929–32). Rev. Magee was elected a delegate to General Conferences in 1928 and 1932.
Upon his election to the Episcopacy, Bishop Magee was assigned to theSt. Paulepiscopal area (1932–39). In the newly formedMethodist Church, Bishop Magee was assigned theDes Moines Area (1939–44), followed by theChicago Area (1944- ).
As Bishop Magee also served asPresident of the Board of Pensions of The Methodist Church, Inc. inIllinois, and of the Board of Education of the Church. He served as a member of the Board of Missions, the Board of Lay Activities, and the Commission on Overseas Relief.
In St. Paul, Bishop Magee served as the President ofHamline University, 1933-34. In Seattle he served on the Mayor's Commission on Unemployment (1931). In Chicago he served on the Mayor'sV-E Day Committee.