Aubrey C. Lewis Sr., son of Clemmons and Edna Lewis, was born and
raised in Montclair, N.J., along with his three sisters Bernice
Lewis-Grier, Myrna Lewis-Tyree, and Carolyn Lewis-Wilson. He attended
Montclair High School from 1950 to 1954. During his stellar high school
career as a three-sport athlete serving under the guidance of legendary
coaches Clary Anderson (Clarence Oscar Anderson) and Angelo “Butch”
Fortunato, Lewis led the way earning a pair of state football
championships, scoring 49 touchdowns and running for over 4,500 rushing
yards during his career. Lewis was a champion hurdler, set state records
as a sprinter in the 100-yard dash, 220, and discus, and led the
Mounties to consecutive team championships in track and field. He was
also the power forward on Montclair’s only unbeaten championship
basketball squad in 1953-54. Lewis was named the Offensive Player of the
Century alongside Paul Robeson who was named the Defensive Player of
the Century by the Star-Ledger.
As an All-American athlete, Lewis chose the University of Notre Dame
(1954-1958) from a list of over 200 scholarship offers, becoming a first
generation and trailblazer as an African American student at the
University. He was a three-year starter in football as both an offensive
and defensive halfback for the Fighting Irish playing alongside the
1956 Heisman Trophy winner Paul Hornung. He was the first African
American to captain a Notre Dame athletic team (Track). Lewis was
runner-up in the AAU decathlon, and set numerous school records to
include winning the NCAA Division 1 title in the 400-meter hurdles in
world record time. Many years later, as a 1958 alumnus, Lewis became the
first African American to be elected a Notre Dame Trustee.
In 1958, Lewis was selected by the Chicago Bears in the tenth round
of the NFL Draft, but an ankle injury prevented him from playing
professionally.
In 1961, Lewis began a career as a teacher and coach at Central High
School in Paterson, N.J. where he became the first African American high
school football head coach in the state.
Lewis was recruited by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1962,
becoming one of the first two African Americans to complete training at
the Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He served as a special agent under
the former FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover. He served as an agent for the
FBI in Cincinnati, Ohio and New York City.
Following his career as an FBI agent, Lewis’ aspirations led him to
explore the opportunities within the private sector. During a time when
corporate America began to reach out to minorities for employment
opportunities, Lewis accepted a job offer with the F.W. Woolworth
Corporation. He soon embarked on a career in business and serving the
community.
Over the years, Lewis served on many boards to include BRAG (Black
Retail Action Group), a non-profit organization that prepares and
educates professionals, entrepreneurs and students of color for
executive leadership in retail, fashion and related industries, Bally
Total Fitness Holding Corporation, who in the past donated Nautilus
equipment to the Woodman Field weight room, The United States Naval
Academy Foundation, Mountainside Hospital, the New Jersey State Chamber
of Commerce and the YMCA of Chinatown, NYC.
He was an advisor to the City of New York Procurement Policy Board,
Midlantic Corporation, Midlantic National Bank, Montclair Savings Bank,
Independence Savings Bank, Cerebral Palsy of New York and New Jersey and
the Black Executive Exchange Program of the National Urban League,
amongst other businesses and organizations. For more than 20 years, he
was a part-time TV sports commentator for WPIX, Channel 11.
In 1983, Lewis was inducted into the New Jersey Sports Hall of Fame.
Also that year, Lewis was Notre Dame’s nominee and winner of the NCAA’s
Silver Anniversary Award given nationally to five former college
student-athletes for living exemplary lives and making meaningful
contributions to society.
He was a vice chairman of the New Jersey Highway Authority and a
commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in the
late 1990s. He served as commissioner of the New Jersey Sports and
Exposition Authority (NJSEA) when it developed the Meadowlands Sports
Complex in the 1970s, then rejoined the agency as a commissioner in
1999. David A “Sonny” Werblin, NJSEA’s first chairman and Lewis’ mentor,
called Aubrey “a master at bringing people together, a remarkable
motivator of people and a brilliant manager of projects.”
After 37 years of an outstanding career in business Lewis retired on
January 1, 2000 as a Senior Executive of Corporate Affairs for the
Venator Group formerly F.W. Woolworth Company (currently Foot Locker
Inc.).
As lifetime residents of Montclair, Aubrey Lewis, Sr. and his grade
school sweetheart Annie were married 58 years and are now eternally
united. They are survived by their five children, Lauren, Aubrey Jr.,
Lisa, John Sr. and Gary; 13 grandchildren, Ashley, Christopher, Gary,
Aubrey III, Taylor, Amber, Tobias, Tyler, Syd, John Jr., Micaiah, Dasia,
Malachi; and one great-grandchild, Ari Anne.
The Montclair Public School District, in conjunction with the Lewis
Family, are honored to dedicate 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 would like to thank the honored guests, the Montclair Township
Council, the Montclair Board of Education, the community and friends for
their support in making this a memorable dedication ceremony honoring
Aubrey Lewis, Sr.
Montclair has always been and will forever be home to the legendary
Aubrey Lewis Sr. and family, standing tall with Mountie Pride.
Sincerely,
The Lewis Family