Olympic Athlete. A native of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Lewis began his athletic career in track and field at Central Collegiate under the guidance of John Richard 'Cap' Cornelius, and became one of Hamilton's top athletes. In 1929 he had four high school track and field records for just one day in the 100, 200, and 440-yard dashes and a anchor for the one-mile relay. He later attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then later going to Los Angeles, California, in 1932 to be part of the Olympics. He won a bronze medal in the 1,600 relay and at the time he became the first Canadian-born black athlete to stand on the Olympic podium, and then in 1934 he ran the 440-yard race at the British Empire Games in London, England. In his later years he became a member of the Order of Canada and was honoured as one of Canada's oldest athletes in 2003. He passed away at the age of 93 in November 2003. He was inducted into The Hamilton Gallery of Distinction in 1992.
Olympic Athlete. A native of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Lewis began his athletic career in track and field at Central Collegiate under the guidance of John Richard 'Cap' Cornelius, and became one of Hamilton's top athletes. In 1929 he had four high school track and field records for just one day in the 100, 200, and 440-yard dashes and a anchor for the one-mile relay. He later attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then later going to Los Angeles, California, in 1932 to be part of the Olympics. He won a bronze medal in the 1,600 relay and at the time he became the first Canadian-born black athlete to stand on the Olympic podium, and then in 1934 he ran the 440-yard race at the British Empire Games in London, England. In his later years he became a member of the Order of Canada and was honoured as one of Canada's oldest athletes in 2003. He passed away at the age of 93 in November 2003. He was inducted into The Hamilton Gallery of Distinction in 1992.
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
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