H. Craig Lewis

Summary

Harold Craig Lewis (July 22, 1944 – January 13, 2013) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 6th district[1] from 1975 to 1994.[2] Lewis was chair of the Judiciary, Local Government, and Ethics Committees throughout his Senate career. He served on numerous state commissions and he was the minority leader of the Appropriations Committee until 1984.

Craig Lewis
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 6th district
In office
January 7, 1975 – November 30, 1994
Preceded byRobert Rovner
Succeeded byTommy Tomlinson
Personal details
Born(1944-07-22)July 22, 1944
Hazleton, Pennsylvania, United States
DiedJanuary 13, 2013(2013-01-13) (aged 68)
Anegada, British Virgin Islands

Early life and education edit

Lewis was born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, Lewis graduated from Millersville University of Pennsylvania, attended the University of Nebraska graduate school and received his law degree from Temple University.[3]

Career edit

In 1980, Lewis lost a primary bid for the U.S. Senate. In 1992, he lost a bid to unseat Republican Auditor General Barbara Hafer.[4]

He practiced law as a partner in the Dechert, Price & Rhodes law firm and served as a member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Council, and the state Advisory Committee for Guidance Service. After leaving the Senate, Sen. Lewis served as a vice president for corporate affairs at Norfolk Southern Corp. In 1998, he was named chair of the Philadelphia Foundation, which at that time awarded the Philadelphia Liberty Medal. He also was on the board of Aria Health, which operates three hospitals in the Philadelphia region, and the Philadelphia Zoo.[5]

He died of a heart attack in Loblolly Bay on a vacation to the British Virgin Islands in 2013. At the time of his death he resided in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[3] He is buried immediately next to Harry Kalas at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.

Personal life edit

In 1984 he married Dianne Semingson, a Philadelphia business director who served in the Wilson Goode administration as a city representative.[4]

Legacy edit

In 2013, Norfolk Southern Railway renamed the Dillerville Yard in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in honor of Lewis.[6]

External links edit

  • Senator H. Craig Lewis Papers

References edit

  1. ^ "H. Craig Lewis, 68, a former PA State Senator". Philly.com. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  2. ^ Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "L"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
  3. ^ a b "Pennsylvania State Senate - H Craig Lewis Biography". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  4. ^ a b Morrison, John F. "H. Craig Lewis, 68, five-term state senator". www.philly.com. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Sen. H. Craig Lewis Esq". www.theintell.com. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  6. ^ Vantuono, William C. (2013-10-31). "Norfolk Southern dedicates yard in honor of H. Craig Lewis". www.railwayage.com. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
Pennsylvania State Senate
Preceded by Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 6th District
1975–1994
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Auditor General of Pennsylvania
1992
Succeeded by