Leslie Lee “Red” Lewis, inducted into the Western Junior College Athletic Conference Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2006, put Howard College on the map winning four national track championships – 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1967 and 11 Western Conference championships.  

Coach Lewis obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from Hardin Simmons University in 1941 and his Masters of Science degree from North Texas University. He served In the United States Air Force during WWII as a navigator and taught navigation to Chinese navigators. He also ferried planes of officers to England, India, and Africa. 

In addition to his time as a math professor and track coach at Howard College, Coach Lewis spent time at Cisco Junior College as a football and basketball coach and math professor and at Dallas Baptist College as a math professor, football and wrestling coach. 

Coach Lewis was selected as Coach of the Decade by the Texas Sports Writer’s Association and served as president of the National Junior College Track Association. He retired from Howard College in 1979. 

Leslie Lee “Red” Lewis passed away in February of 1996.