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worked with over the past seventeen years and beyond. When it comes to creating that feeling of family at Pearl River, he gives Janet Gale a lot of credit. “I would meet here at times in the cafeteria for lunch, and just watching her go around and speak to so many people who she genuinely cared about was so important. She spread that culture all the time.” Here’s some insight on how Dr. Lewis and Janet Gale are viewed by those who have been around them for years. “Outside of my father, Dr. Lewis has had more impact on my life both personally and professionally,” current PRCC President Dr. Adam Breerwood shared. “He is a visionary. I look at him taking me under his wings at age 27 and where I am today, is a direct reflection of his influence in my life. I look back on when I wanted to be the next baseball coach at Pearl River, but he told me he had other plans for me at Pearl River. I was devastated at the time, but he knew better. He changed the course of my whole life, and I am in debt to him for the rest of my life.” As a member of the board of trustees at PRCC, Dale Purvis pointed to Dr. Lewis’ ability to do good things for all community colleges as well as Pearl River. “Dr. Lewis was passionate about the college and he wanted to leave it better than he found it. He wanted to improve the relationships with the city and county governments. He understood the importance of academics and he understand the importance of all the other aspects, and how everything like athletics, band, music, and all the activities at the college needed to work together,” Purvis stated. “He is a great leader and one thing greatest things was he knew how to negotiate, when to compromise, and he was well connected in Jackson at the state capitol. Dr. Lewis was very successful in acquiring funds for the college, and it wasn’t just Pearl River, he was instrumental in getting appropriations for the good of all the community colleges across the state. Never selfish. 22 SOUTHERN SENIOR MAGAZINE | Winter 2020-2021 Board member Dale Purvis and Dr Lewis