DAYTON, Ohio (September 10, 2019) – Downtown Dayton’s streets will soon pay homage to a long time figure in the region known for being a civic leader and advocate for citizen participation in government. The City of Dayton will dedicate a portion of Ludlow Street – between Monument Avenue and Third Street – to Lloyd Lewis, Jr., Wednesday, recognizing the former Ohio State Representative and Dayton native.
Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, along with Commissioners Jeffrey Mims and Chris Shaw, will dedicate the street during a ceremony on Wednesday, September 11 at 9:45am on the corner of Third & Ludlow Streets. Representatives from Dayton Power & Light and members of the Lewis family will be present for the dedication.
Lloyd Lewis, Jr. served the 38th district of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1995-1998, but his presence was felt in Dayton long before he held an office in Columbus. Lewis’s public servant work included positions as the assistant city manager for Dayton and member of the city plan board.
Lewis’s leadership resulted in tangible advancements that can still be seen today. From 1965-69, Lewis chaired Dayton’s Special Committee on Urban Renewal and wrote a proposal that was among the first to receive federal funding through the Model Cities program. The project resulted in Dayton’s award-winning Priority Board system. During his time serving Dayton’s plan board, Lewis helped spearhead the development of Courthouse Square, and while he was assistant city manager, Lewis founded paramedic and park ranger programs.
Lewis was also active in the business community, once working as the general manager for Rike’s department store in downtown Dayton and as assistant vice president at Dayton Power & Light. While working at DP&L, Lewis initiated the Volunteer Insulation Program, which forged a partnership between the utility company and volunteer organizations to insulate the attics of families in need.
Beyond his professional career, Lewis was well represented in political and community organizations. He was a member of the Democratic Voters League and the Black Elected Democrats of Ohio. He was also a board trustee for The Dayton Foundation, AAA of the Miami Valley and the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce.
Lewis died in 2001 at the age of 74 after receiving a number of honors for his work championing Ohio and the Dayton region. In 1993, Lewis received the Bank One Dayton New Leaf Award. He was also honored with the St. Elizabeth Medical Center Friend of the Year in 1992, The President’s Club of Dayton’s Citizen Legion of Honor in 1988, and the Marketing Association Marketer of the Year (Dayton Chapter) in 1984. In 2005, Lewis was inducted into the Dayton Region’s Walk of Fame.
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