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Leo Lewis (1953)
(Lincoln University Athletic Archives) |
JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri -- Legendary Lincoln running back Leo Lewis, who helped the Blue Tigers win 27 games and post back-to-back undefeated seasons in the early 1950's, passed away on Friday (Aug. 30).
Lewis, who owns four of Lincoln's top six single-season rushing marks, carried the ball 623 times for 4,457 yards and 64 touchdowns during his four-year LU career, with all three of those marks still standing as program records. Nicknamed "The Lincoln Locomotive," Lewis played for Lincoln from 1951-1954, rushing for over 1,100 yards three times and finishing with 384 career points. Lewis scored four touchdowns in a game on four occasions, making him the only Blue Tiger to ever accomplish that feat multiple times, and set a program record with 22 touchdowns in the 1953 campaign.
From 1951-1954, Lincoln posted four consecutive winning seasons, including posting identical 8-0-1 records during the 1952 and 1953 campaigns. In 1952, Lincoln outscored opponents, 267-74, and finished the year ranked No. 2 in the country by the Pittsburgh Courier. The Blue Tigers had similar success in 1953, outscoring opponents by a total of 266-67 en route to a second-straight unbeaten season. This success was due in large part to the unstoppable running ability of Lewis, who broke free for 1,239 yards in 1952 and 1,230 yards in 1953. Those marks remain the top-two ever by an LU back, and both came in nine-game seasons.
Lewis began his LU career in 1951, rushing for 1,164 yards and helping to create one of the greatest turn-arounds in program history. After a 1-7 in 1950 in which Lincoln scored just 52 points, the Blue Tigers, on the strength of Lewis' running, exploded for 290 points in 1951 while going 7-2. Lewis later closed his prolific career in 1954, rushing for 824 yards in an eight-game season that the Blue Tigers finished with a 4-3-1 record.
The holder of nearly every major Lincoln rushing record, Lewis holds the single season mark for yards per carry (5.9, 1952) and the record for yards in a single game (245). Lewis joins Lemar Parrish as the only two Lincoln football players to have their jerseys retired, as Lewis' No. 30 uniform was retired by the athletic department in 2000.
Lewis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1955 and immediately went on to play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League until 1965. He later returned to Lincoln to serve as the team's head football coach from 1973-1975, leading the Blue Tigers to 12 victories.
Lewis also served as the head golf coach and the head women's basketball coach at LU and, at one point, served as the school's interim athletic director. Lewis became the most successful women's basketball coach in Blue Tiger history, leading Lincoln to six double-digit win seasons in the early 1980s including a program-best 15 wins in 1984-85. Lewis finished his coaching career in 1993 with 102 career victories.
Lewis was inducted into the Lincoln Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. This October, he will be joined by many of his teammates, as the 1952 and 1953 Lincoln football teams will also be enshrined in the hall of fame.
By Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations
COURTESY LINCOLN UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
Leo Lewis, Athlete/Football Inducted 2005 (Reprint)
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, Canada -- Of the thousands of men who have carried the ball in the Canadian Football League, only five had run for more yards than the great Leo Lewis at the time of his induction. Even though his career ended nearly forty years ago, the “Lincoln Locomotive” still ranked sixth all time in CFL rushing with 8,861 yards. His astonishing 6.6 yards per carry was the best ever among CFL backs.
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, he moved with his family to St. Paul as an infant. He played his college football at the University of Lincoln, in Jefferson City, Missouri before coming to Canada in 1955 and making himself into a legend. Yet for all his accomplishments he retained his modesty.
“Sixth all time?” he said with genuine surprise. “I thought I’d be about twenty something by now.”
Even in his days as a player Lewis was less concerned with his own numbers than in the big picture.
“I wasn’t too interested in individual glory. I was more interested in team glory. If what I did helped us win then it was important. If I had a great game and we lost it (the individual glory) wasn’t important to me.”
Leo Lewis joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1955. After missing the ’56 season with an ankle injury, he embarked on a nine-year journey through CFL defences. By the time he was through, he ranked third all time in rushing yardage and when he retired was the League’s all time leader in kickoff return yardage. He stood fourth on that list with a stunning 29.1 yard average per return. He also knew how to find the end zone, scoring seventy-five career touchdowns.
A six-time Western All Star, he was named to the All Canadian All Star team in 1962. Not surprisingly, he receives the highest praise from those who knew him best.
“He was a quarterback’s best friend” says former Blue Bomber great Ken Ploen. “It didn’t matter what you asked him to do he’d do it to the best of his ability. He was there all the time. He never complained. He was a true professional.”
Lewis was perhaps the most exciting player of his time; dashing and darting, running outside and cutting back in.
“He was the best football player we ever had” according to veteran sports writer Jack Matheson. “I liked everything Leo did.”
After a knee injury finished his career in 1966, Lewis returned to the University of Lincoln where he spent more than thirty years, coaching and teaching.
“I really enjoyed Winnipeg. I enjoyed the people. They made me feel like I was home.”
Leo Lewis helped to create one of the CFL’s great dynasties as the Bombers captured four Grey Cups in a five-year span. He is a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the U. S. Collegiate Hall of Fame, and was selected as one of the top 20 All-Time Blue Bombers in 2005.
COURTESY THE MANITOBA SPORTS HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM
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