Friday, February 5, 1999
In Re: Investiture of the Honorable R. Fred Lewis
as the 78th Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida

Place of Origin
Justice Lewis comes from Miami and is a native of West Virginia

Biography of R. Fred Lewis
Justice R. Fred Lewis was appointed to the Supreme Court of Florida on December 7, 1998, by the late Gov. Lawton Chiles. He was born in Beckley, West Virginia, on December 14, 1947. He attended Woodrow Wilson High School, where he was actively involved in both athletic and academic pursuits, serving as president of the student body, receiving All State and All American recognition for athletic achievement, and receiving the Pete George Memorial Award as the outstanding scholar athlete.

Justice Lewis came to Florida in 1965 to attend Florida Southern College in Lakeland, where he excelled in athletics and academics. He was elected president of the sophomore, junior, and senior classes, and received the highest honor in 1969 by being selected as the Honor Walk Student, which is awarded annually for the outstanding senior student for scholastic and service achievements.

He graduated from college cum laude in 1969 and was awarded the NCAA Post-Graduate Grant as one of the top fifteen scholar athletes in the United States. He also received the Besser Lindsey Award as one of the top ten male university students in the United States, awarded by Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Among his other achievements were the Williams Memorial Outstanding Athlete Award and inclusion in the Outstanding Athletes in America, National Student Register, Order of Omega, Omicron Delta Kappa, Psi Chi, Political Union, and the Greek Hall of Fame.

Upon graduating from college, Lewis moved to Miami to attend the University of Miami School of Law, where he graduated cum laude in 1972. He was a member of the University of Miami Law Review and was an officer in the Student Bar Association. Selected as a Justice of the Law School Honor Council, Lewis also served on the Appellate Moot Court Teams. He was selected for the Iron Arrow, the highest honor society, and was awarded membership in Bar and Gavel, and Order of Barristers.

Upon graduation from law school, Justice Lewis attended and graduated from the United States Army A.G. School after acting as Commander of the Corps of cadets for the University of Miami ROTC program. He graduated as its top student, receiving the Order of World Wars Superior Achievement Honor. Upon discharge from the military, Lewis entered private practice in Miami, specializing in civil trial and appellate litigation. He left practice upon his appointment to the Florida Supreme Court effective January 1, 1999.

Justice Lewis has been heavily involved in children's issues, serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Miami Children's Hospital and many of its committees and panels. While in private practice, he was heavily involved in providing counseling to families with children having impairments and provided pro bono legal services and counseling for cancer patients seeking proper treatment for multiple conditions. He has served The Florida Bar in the capacity of Inventory Attorney, spending many hours auditing and reviewing files for the protection of clients. He has authored materials published by The Florida Bar's Continuing Legal Education Program and has participated in numerous cases selected for annotation in The American Law Report.

Justice Lewis and his wife Judith attended Florida Southern College together and were married in 1969. They have two children, Elle, an engineering student at Rice University in Houston, and Lindsay, a student in the public school system.