James R. Lewis (legislator)

Lewis was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended Rufus King High School, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and Moody Bible Institute; worked as an evangelist for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; married; and became active in the organizations Citizens for Decency Through Law and Christian Business Men's Committee (of which he was a regional director). As of 1972–1974 he lived in the Town of Barton in Washington County.[http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1973 Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. The state of Wisconsin 1973 blue book Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; p. 57] An ordained minister, Lewis founded Christian Bible Fellowship, a regional missionary society, in 1988.

He was elected to represent the newly created 53rd Assembly District (portions of Dodge, Fond du Lac, and Washington counties) in 1972 with 9341 votes, to 7939 for Democrat Lehman Eichstadt.[http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1973 Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. The state of Wisconsin 1973 blue book Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; p. 827] In 1974 he almost lost a challenge in the Republican primary to Mary Panzer (daughter of Frank E. Panzer, a former state senator from this area), receiving 1830 votes to her 1749; but won the general election by a more comfortable margin.Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. [http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1975 The state of Wisconsin 1975 blue book] Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; pp. 803, 830 He saw no challenge in the 1976 primary and was reelected easily.Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. [http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1977 The state of Wisconsin 1977 blue book.] Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; pp. 893, 915 In 1978 he was re-elected without opposition.[http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WIBlueBk1979 Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. The state of Wisconsin 1979–1980 blue book''. Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; p. 925]

Lewis became part of a group who attempted to persuade laser scientist Myron Muckerheide (formerly with NASA) to create a laser gun "designed to blind people", and to sell it to Guatemalan colonel Federico Fuentes in order to raise funds to build a laetrile factory in South America{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HCAqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5ioEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5253%2C2218822|title=Dreyfus won't go to bat for Lewis|date=November 24, 1979|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|page=6|accessdate=November 1, 2010}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pf9YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-kUNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1911,5790463&hl=en|title=Odd Laser Scheme|date=August 29, 1979|work=The Daily Union Democrat|page=2|accessdate=4 November 2010}} (Lewis had been a prominent Wisconsin advocate for the legalization and manufacture of laetrile). Muckerheide contacted the FBI, the laser was never built, and in 1979 Lewis pleaded guilty to perjury for lying to a federal grand jury investigating the scheme.UPI. "Solon convicted of making, selling laser gun." Rome News-Tribune August 29, 1979; p. A-2. Lewis, apologized, saying he "...made a very, very serious mistake and I regret that very much."UPI. "Legislator pleads guilty to lying on laser gun plan." Bangor Daily News August 30, 1979; p.2 Fellow Republican Governor Lee Dreyfus declined to request a presidential pardon for Lewis, although he was quoted as saying the six-month sentence was too harsh.[https://law.justia.com] | Lewis v. Coursolle Broadcasting | Annotate this Case | 127 Wis. 2d 105 (1985) | 377 N.W.2d 166 | [https://law.justia.com/cases/wisconsin/supreme-court/1985/84-1881-9.html]

Under the relevant provisions of Wisconsin law, Lewis was removed from office.Johnson, Raymond E. "5 vie to replace ousted legislator." Milwaukee Journal December 27, 1979; p. Accent North 6 In the subsequent special election, Mary Panzer was elected to take his place.

Lewis worked for a family owned business, Sunseed Natural Foods, in West Bend.{{Cite web |url=http://www.biznet-wi.com/firms/8662262/ |title=Sunseed Natural Foods, Inc. |access-date=2013-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031958/http://www.biznet-wi.com/firms/8662262/ |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }} He served on the board of the Mid-American Health Organization (a regional lobbying organization for health food stores and sellers of dietary supplements) and as its president (2002-2010).

Lewis died on October 9, 2020, in Wisconsin Dells.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtoncountyinsider.com/james-lewis/ |department=Obituary | title=James Lewis, 84, of Wisconsin Dells formerly of the Town of Barton |last=Steffes |first=Judy |date=October 22, 2020 |newspaper=Washington County Insider |accessdate=May 26, 2021}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 53rd district|years=January 1, 1973–November 21, 1979}}

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Category:1936 births

Category:2020 deaths

Category:Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly

Category:Politicians from Milwaukee

Category:People from Barton, Wisconsin

Category:People from Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin

Category:American salespeople

Category:Moody Bible Institute alumni

Category:University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee alumni

Category:American evangelists

Category:Businesspeople from Wisconsin

Category:Wisconsin politicians convicted of crimes

Category:Rufus King International High School alumni

Category:20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature