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Football Dan Carr, Assistant AD for Media Relations

Join Lincoln for a Special Presentation Celebrating Leo Lewis' 75th Anniversary as a Blue Tiger


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The family of Leo "The Lincoln Locomotive" Lewis will celebrate the 75th anniversary of his freshman year at Lincoln University during a special presentation on Friday, Sept. 11.
 
LU students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as members of the Jefferson City community, are invited to gather in the Scruggs University Center Ballroom at 6:30 p.m. CT for a reception with Lewis' family members, followed by the presentation at 7:00 p.m.
 
Lewis' family will deliver a historical presentation of his career at Lincoln University, both his time as a student-athlete and his return to Lincoln as a coach of three sports, including head football coach. The program will consist of guest speakers, video presentations and a display of artifacts.
 
A three-time All-American, 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 1955-66, 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. In 2019, both Lewis and his son, Leo Lewis III, were enshrined in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
 
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