For Immediate Release
Contact: Dr. Kendra V. Johnson, Superintendent, Montclair Public Schools
973.509.4010
The Montclair Public Schools (MPS) is pleased to announce The Aubrey Lewis Sports Complex dedication ceremony on Saturday, October 13, 2018, at 10:30 AM, 28
Essex Ave, Montclair, NJ, before the 1:00 PM football kickoff against
Bloomfield. Aubrey Lewis graduated in 1954 from Montclair High School.
During his high school career, Lewis led the way to two state football
championships, scoring 49 touchdowns and running for over 4,500 rushing
yards. Lewis also led Montclair to two consecutive team championships in
track and field and one state championship in basketball. He was named
the Offensive Player of the Century alongside Paul Robeson who was named
the Defensive Player of the Century by the Star-Ledger.
He chose the University of Notre Dame from a list of over 200 schools
that had offered him scholarships and played halfback for the Notre
Dame Fighting Irish football team alongside Heisman Trophy winner Paul
Hornung. He was chosen by the Chicago Bears in the tenth round of the
1958 NFL Draft, but an ankle injury prevented him from playing
professionally. He went on to be elected as captain of the track team,
making him the first African American athlete at Notre Dame to be chosen
as a team captain. He later became the first African American to join
the Board of Trustees at this prestigious university.
In 1962, he was chosen by J. Edgar Hoover to participate as a member
of the first Federal Bureau of Investigation agent training program to
include African Americans at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Lewis had a very successful career in business working for the F.W.
Woolworth Corporation now (Foot Locker Inc.) for 37 years as the VP of
Corporate Affairs.
Lewis was married to his Montclair High School sweetheart Ann. They
had five children: Aubrey Jr., Lauren, Lisa, John and Gary, 13
grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. To read more about Lewis, see
his biography and photographs from the family album.
And, now we, Montclair Public Schools, will name our athletic fields
and facilities The Aubrey Lewis Sports Complex, which is comprised of
Fortunato Field, Woodman Field, Furlong Field House, and other
structures yet to be constructed in the area.
We invite the Lewis family, local dignitaries, and friends to join
MPS in the dedication ceremony. Due to limited seating, please RSVP to
Nina DeRosa at (973) 509-4010 or by email on or before October 9, 2018.