Delano Lewis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Delano Lewis
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|---|---|
 |
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| U.S. Ambassador to South Africa | |
| In office 1999–2001 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | James A. Joseph |
| Succeeded by | Cameron Hume |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 12, 1938 Arkansas City, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | August 2, 2023 (aged 84) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Gayle Jones
(m. 1960) |
| Children | 4, including Phill Lewis |
| Alma mater | University of Kansas Washburn University |
Delano Eugene Lewis (born November 12, 1938 – died August 2, 2023) was an important American lawyer, businessman, and diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in another country. He served as the United States Ambassador to South Africa from 1999 to 2001. Before that, he held big leadership jobs at the Peace Corps and National Public Radio. He was also the father of the actor Phill Lewis.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Delano Lewis was born in Arkansas City, Kansas. His family were strong supporters of the Democratic Party. He was named after Franklin D. Roosevelt, a famous U.S. President. His parents were Raymond Ernest Lewis, who worked for the Santa Fe Railroad, and Enna L. Lewis, a homemaker.
Lewis went to Sumner High School in Kansas City, Kansas. He finished high school in 1956. During his high school years, he also attended "Boys State," a program that teaches young people about how government works.
He then went to the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, and graduated in 1960. A famous basketball player, Wilt Chamberlain, was one of his classmates there. Later, Lewis earned a law degree from the Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas, in 1963. While studying law, he worked full-time at the Menninger Clinic.
Career Highlights
After finishing law school, Lewis started his career as a lawyer. He worked for the U.S. Justice Department. He also worked for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which helps make sure everyone has a fair chance at jobs.
From 1966 to 1969, he worked for the Peace Corps in Nigeria and Uganda. The Peace Corps is a program where Americans volunteer to help people in other countries. He was an associate director and country director there.
Lewis also worked as a special assistant for important politicians. He helped Senator Edward Brooke and Delegate Walter E. Fauntroy. He also helped Marion Barry when he became mayor of Washington, D.C.
Leadership in Business and Media
In 1973, Lewis joined The Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company. He started as a public affairs manager and eventually became the chief executive officer (CEO) in 1990. The CEO is the top leader of a company.
He also served as president of the Greater Washington Board of Trade for a year in 1988. This group helps businesses in the Washington, D.C. area. He also led a new bank called City National Bank of Washington.
In 1993, Lewis became the president and CEO of National Public Radio (NPR). NPR is a well-known non-profit news and radio organization in the U.S. During his time at NPR, he also served on the board of directors for Apple Computer for three years. He left NPR in 1998.
Lewis was also on the boards of other big companies. These included Black Entertainment Television (BET), Colgate-Palmolive, Halliburton, and Eastman Kodak.
Ambassador to South Africa
In 1999, U.S. President Bill Clinton chose Delano Lewis to be the United States Ambassador to South Africa. An ambassador is the highest-ranking diplomat representing their country. He served in this important role until 2001. A judge who was his classmate from law school, John Edwards Conway, swore him into office.
After his time as ambassador, Lewis and his wife moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico. There, he started his own consulting business called Lewis & Associates. He also became a senior fellow at New Mexico State University in 2006. The next year, he helped start the International Relations Institute at the university.
Involvement in Politics
Delano Lewis was very involved in helping Washington, D.C., get "home rule." Home rule means that the city's local government can make more of its own decisions. Before this, the U.S. Congress had more control over the city. The District of Columbia Home Rule Act was passed in 1973.
He was a leader in a group called VOICE, which worked for home rule after riots happened in Washington in 1968. Lewis also ran for a seat on the Council of the District of Columbia, which is Washington's city council. He did not win, but he was often seen as a powerful person in Washington, D.C., politics. Even though he was considered a possible candidate for mayor, he decided not to run for any public office when he left NPR.
Personal Life and Awards
Delano Lewis was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, a social and service organization. He was elected president of his fraternity chapter while at the University of Kansas.
He received many awards for his work and community service. The Washingtonian magazine named him a "Washingtonian of the Year" in 1978. He also received the President's Medal from Catholic University of America in the same year. In January 2009, he was honored as "Kansan of the Year."
Lewis married Gayle Carolyn Jones in 1960. They had four sons: Delano Jr., Geoffrey, Brian, and the actor Phill. Lewis was raised as a Baptist, but he became a Catholic when he got married. He passed away on August 2, 2023.
See also
In Spanish: Delano Lewis para niños
- List of Washburn University alumni
- List of University of Kansas people
