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Shortly after becoming President at PRCC, Lewis had to jump in and take over as Athletic Director due to sudden passing of Keith Daniels who was head football coach and Athletic Director. Dr. Lewis jumped in mainly due to timing and economic need at the time. “We worked to bring in great coaches and staff, and it paid off when we won four state championships including baseball, basketball, soccer, and football in the 2003-2004 school year. This achievement was the first and only time an institution has won four state athletic championships in one year. The state legislature recognized the school and it was due to the commitment of our coaches in all aspects to make that happen,” Lewis stated. “One of things we wanted to accomplish was to become a nationally competitive institution. Of course, we would love for 100 percent of our students to stay in Mississippi. But we know that is not going to be a reality, so we, as an institution, have to prepare them to be ready to compete nationally and in the worldwide marketplace. How do you measure that? We have won a national championship in football and were most likely a national champion last year in basketball. Our fine arts programs are second to none, our music department is on a level with all the colleges and universities in the state and beyond. Our students are gaining national recognition through programs like the Jack Kent Cooke scholarships. It comes down to all the students, whether they arrived with challenges or they are high achieving, Pearl River works to put them all on a path to success. So many have come back and said they credit Pearl River for putting them down that path due to our faculty and staff.” During homecoming activities at Mis- sissippi College in October 1999, Dr. Lewis was presented the College's Distinguished Alumni Award from the Department of Teacher Education. In 2014, he was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame at the University of Southern Mississippi. When he retired from PRCC in 2017, Dr. Lewis was recognized for his contributions and leadership at the college being named President Emeritus. Dr. Lewis has made a mark in the lives of many who he has www.southernsenior.info 21 Rent the Center for your Special Occasions, Parties or Meetings.