SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Missouri Sports Football Hall of Fame announced on Monday (Sept. 30) that Leo "The Lincoln Locomotive" will be inducted in the class of 2019.

The Hall of Fame's Enshrinement, Presented by Great Southern Bank will be held in Columbia, Mo. at the Holiday Inn Executive Center on November 3 at 1:00 p.m. CT.

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 1950 season  in which Lincoln went 1-7 and 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 additionally holds the single-season mark for yards per carry (5.9, 1952). 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, who played professionally for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League from 1955-65, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Lincoln Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. Lewis was named a CFL All-Star seven times throughout his career and was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 1973. In 2018, Lewis was also inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

Leo Lewis III, a standout football player who won a state championship at Hickman High and was a star at the University of Missouri before beginning a 13-year career in the National Football League, will be enshrined alongside his father. Also joining the Lewises in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame are Erle Bennett, Sharon Buschjost, The Fry Family, Chris Gervino, Dave Gill, Ed Lampitt, Jeremy Maclin, Eric McDonnell, Jim Scanlon, Melinda Wrye-Washington, Barry Koeneke and the Hallsville High School Basketball Program, the Jefferson City High School Football Program, the Rock Bridge High School Boys & Girls Tennis Programs and the Show-Me State Games & Missouri Senior Games. In addition to the enshrinees, Gary Pinkel will receive the Missouri Sports Legends Award, Bob Burchard will be the recipient of the Pinnacle Award and Mark Adams will be given the President's Award.

The Enshrinement in Columbia is the eighth such event away from Springfield for the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, a not-for-profit which does not apply for state or federal funding. Sponsorship tables of 10 are $1,500, while an individual ticket is $150. Numerous sponsorships are available, including associate sponsorships, congratulatory ads and trading cards. Call 417-889-3100.