Julius Curtis Lewis, Jr.
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| Julius Curtis Lewis, Jr. | |
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| In office October 3, 1966 – 1970 | |
| Preceded by | Malcolm Maclean |
| Succeeded by | John Rousakis |
| Born | March 11 1926 Savannah, Georgia |
| Died | August 20 2005 Age 79 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Nancy Nelson Lewis |
| Alma mater | University of Georgia |
| Religion | Baptist |
Julius Curtis Lewis, Jr. (b. March 11, 1926 in Savannah, Georgia; d. August 20, 2005) was an American businessman, philanthropist and Chairman of J.C. Lewis Enterprises, Lewis Broadcasting Corporation, and Island Investments. He served as Mayor of Savannah in the late 1960s as a Republican. From the 1940s to 2005, Lewis developed a sizable business empire: including automobile dealerships and media outlets throughout the southeast, including both a TV and radio station bearing his initials - WJCL-TV, and WJCL-FM in Savannah, Georgia, and a large commercial real estate portfolio including numerous shopping centers and tracts of mixed use properties throughout the Savannah area--and Green Island, a barrier island located on the coast of Georgia. He was the developer of the final phase of the Landings on Skidaway Island, Moon River Landing. His automotive interests included: the two Ford dealerships in Savannah, Georgia, as well as the city's Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Saab, and Avis Rent A Car franchise(s). He was also a principal owner of the Ford dealerships in Daytona Beach and Melbourne, Florida. Lewis was a principal partner in CLV-Credit Life Insurance Corporation and owned Owens and Trojan Yacht Sales Group in Thunderbolt, GA. His broadcast properties included: ABC-22 WJCL-TV and FOX-28 WTGS-TV in Savannah, Georgia , NBC-38 WLTZ-TV in Columbus, Georgia, CBS-19 WLTX-TV in Columbia, South Carolina, and a Country Western format radio station in Savannah, Georgia as well as three classic rock formated stations in Jackson, and Vicksburg, Mississippi and Columbia, South Carolina. Lewis was instrumental in developing the southside of Savannah along Abercorn Street. He played a pivotal role in the revitalization of the city's River Street and was one of the State's greatest Philanthropists. While Mayor he was directly responsible for the construction of Savannah Civic Center, and the Planning of the Harry S. Truman Parkway. The philanthropist, businessman and former mayor was one of Savannah's leading figures in the 20th century.
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[edit] Philanthropy
Lewis is remembered as an exceedingly generous man who was never too busy to listen to other’s needs. Lewis was the primary benefactor and sustained numerous organizations over the years throughout the Coastal Empire by donating over the course of his lifetime an estimated one hundred million dollars in assets to various charitable groups; including the Union Mission, which provides shelter for men, women, and families, short and long term housing assistance, health and dental care, behavioral counseling, substance abuse programs, life skills training, job training; and employment assistance to the underprivileged population of the Coastal Empire, and to the First Baptist Church of Savannah on Chippewa Square (where he was a member for 66 years; on it's campus are the Lewis Fellowship Hall and Mahogany Altar); Lewis donated the land and buildings for the Skidaway Island Baptist Church, The Savannah Baptist Center, The JC Lewis Health Center (which has become a National Model program for healthcare for the indigent saving hospitals millions in impoverished care costs annually), The JC Lewis Promotion Center, and The JC Lewis Behavioral Health Center. Lewis was the primary benefactor in the Grace House and the Magdalene and Phoenix Projects. Lewis donated the land for the YMCA Habersham Branch in Savannah, Congregation Agudath Achim and Bnai Brith Jacob Synagogues, Memorial Day School, The Episcopal Church in Oakdale, Georgia, The Virginia Heard Public School, The Skidaway Island Community Center, New Hope Baptist Church of Savannah, The Word of God building & (Alzheimer's Association Coastal Georgia Region), and the Chatham County Republican Party. Lewis was also a major benefactor of the Savannah Country Day School’s Lewis Leadership Center and Savannah Christian Preparatory School’s Nancy N Lewis and JC Lewis Fine Arts Hall as well as the 24 Million Dollar[2] Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer and Research Pavilion at St. Josephs / Candler Hospital System, and endowing over one million dollars in 2003 to the JC and Nancy Lewis Christian Missions Endowment Fund of Woodberry Forest School in Orange, Virginia.
[edit] Political career
Lewis ran for Mayor of Savannah in 1966.
Even though he did not exploit the racial issues, he benefited from a backlash from White voters against Democratic incumbent Malcolm Maclean. Many White segregationists considered that Maclean was too soft on matters dealing with race. "He served a productive four years. His administration instituted the then-popular Model Cities Program, a federally funded effort to improve blighted neighborhoods and erase neglect. The Savannah Civic Center and sewerage treatment plant got boosts during his term. He also hired the city's first black department head, retired Army Lt. Col. Tom Sears, whose daughter, Leah Ward Sears, now serves as chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court." ibid
As a result, Lewis and his entire slate of six Republican aldermanic candidates were elected to City Hall. [1]
After four years in office though, they were all defeated.
Democratic nominee John Rousakis succeeded Lewis in 1970. [2]
In the early 1960s, J.C. Lewis, Jr., a former YMCA president, donated 8.5 acres of land on South Habersham Street and went on to lead the 1964 capital funds campaign. The result of those generous efforts on the part of Mr. Lewis, as well as Frank S. Cheatham, Robert H. Demere, W.W. Sprague, Jr., and many others was the YMCA Family Center on Habersham (now known as the Habersham Branch YMCA).
In 1929 the general aviation committee of the Savannah City Council recommended that the 730 acre (3 km²) Belmont Tract, belonging to Mr. Lewis' father, J. C. Lewis, be accepted by the Council as the future site of the Savannah Municipal Airport now known as Hunter Army Airfield.
Lewis previously owned the land where the Oglethrope mall and surrounding shopping areas now exist.
[edit] History
Long before the term compassionate conservative entered our vocabulary, J. Curtis Lewis was its face. An enormously successful businessman, Mr. Lewis's foundation was the Ford dealership he inherited at age 16 when his father died His leadership skills led him from business to politics where he became, in 1966, the first Republican mayor of a Georgia city since Reconstruction. A native of Savannah, Curtis Lewis was an honors graduate of the University of Georgia, and a proud veteran of the United States Navy, the Coast Guard and the Merchant Marine. Following his distinguished sea service to our nation, Mr. Lewis embarked on what would become an incredibly successful business career, building wealth and stature, in several arenas, but perhaps mostly so in the fields of automotive sales and television broadcasting, bringing him considerable stature and positive recognition, throughout the region, and well beyond. Along the way, he took the time, and applied his abundant leadership skills, to pilot Savannah through some then-choppy waters, serving with distinction as Savannah’s mayor, during the latter half of the turbulent ‘60’s. Apart from business, apart from elected office, he recognized throughout his life, that his real mission here on earth was to serve his God by faithfully serving others. Not simply to build up businesses and make them successful, but helping to care-for and build-up people, whenever possible, bringing self-worth and fulfillment to their lives as well. And all of that, he did, in an amazing way. Through his generous donation of wisdom, time, money and caring, he repeatedly provided the critical tools and means so that our professionals might better provide physical, mental and spiritual assistance to those for whom each day is a challenge
[edit] Honors
A member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. Active on the Board of the Kiwanis Club; on the Bethesda Orphanage, on the Board of Directors; the Georgia Baptist Children's Home; Woodberry Forest School Board of Trustees; the President of the YMCA of the Coastal Empire; the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; the United Community Appeal or United Way; The Savannah Country Day School, Chairman Board of Trustees; Citizens and Southern Bank or Bank of America, Board of Directors; Savannah Foods, Board of Directors; Association of the United States Army, President, Coastal Empire Chapter; the Elks Club, Lodge 183; American Legion, Post 184; the Navy League; Salvation Army as an Honorary Director. The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum Foundation; and many more.
His awards, A Brotherhood Award from Agudath Achim Synagogue, the President's Award from Savannah State College, Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of Georgia; Union Mission, Golden Heart Award; Community Service Award from the Georgia Municipal Association; United States Army Award for patriotic civilian service while serving as President of the AUSA, Coastal Empire Chapter; Salvation Army, ``Others Award; Savannah Exchange Club, Golden Deeds Award; the Rotary Club, Paul Harris Fellow; The Oglethorpe Leadership Award; a two-time recipient of the Ben Franklin Quality Dealer Award sponsored by Time Magazine; and also an inductee in the Savannah Business Hall of Fame by Junior Achievement. In 1957, he served as Chairman of, Georgia Automobile Dealers Association. The local Chatham County Republican Party named their annual award in his honor, the J.C. Lewis Award.
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In 2005, a Pavilion of local St. Joseph’s/Candler Hospital was renamed to honor Lewis.[3] [3]
--> In 2003, S. 1671[4] was passed: A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service, located at 10701 Abercorn Street in Savannah, Georgia, as the “J.C. Lewis, Jr., Post Office Building.” [4]
[edit] Footnotes
[edit] External links
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Malcolm Maclean, Democrat | Mayor of Savannah 1966-1970 | Succeeded by John Rousakis, Democrat |
