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Julius Curtis Lewis, Jr. (March 11, 1926 – August 20, 2005) was an American businessman, philanthropist and Chairman of J.C. Lewis Enterprises, Lewis Broadcasting Corporation, J.C. Lewis Investment Company, and Island Investments. He served one term as Mayor of Savannah in the late 1960s as a Republican. From the 1940s to 2005, Lewis developed a sizable business empire: including automobile dealerships and media outlets throughout the southeast, including both a TV and radio station bearing his initials – WJCL-TV (the Savannah, Georgia market's first all color television station), and WJCL-FM (the market's first stereo FM station), and acquired numerous commercial real estate properties including shopping centers and tracts of mixed use properties throughout the Savannah area. Lewis owned a portion of land on the southern end of Skidaway Island and later developed much of it into Moon River Landing, the final phase of the Landings on Skidaway Island and Green Island, a large barrier island located off the coast of Georgia. His automotive interests included: the two Ford dealerships in Savannah, Georgia (Georgia's (oldest ) continuously operated Ford Dealership), as well as the city's Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Saab, and Avis Rent A Car franchise(s). He also owned the Ford dealerships in Daytona Beach and Melbourne, Florida. Lewis was a principal partner in CLV-Credit Life Insurance Corporation and owned Owens and Trojan Yacht Sales Group which was located at the JC Lewis Marina located in Thunderbolt, GA. His media properties included: ABC-22 WJCL-TV and Fox-28 WTGS-TV in Savannah, Georgia, NBC-38 WLTZ-TV in Columbus, Georgia, CBS-19 WLTX-TV in Columbia, South Carolina, and a Country Western format radio station in Savannah, Georgia WJCL-FM, as well as three classic rock formatted stations in Jackson, and Vicksburg, Mississippi WSTZ-FM & WSTZ-AM, and Columbia, South Carolina WNOK. In the mid 70's Lewis acquired the ''Savannah Business Journal'' newspaper. In the 1970s and 80s Lewis owned & operated a group of hotels including, the Howard Johnson's in Hardeeville, SC, the Downtowner Motor Inn, that later became the Ramada Inn in Downtown Savannah and the Ramada Inn in Melbourne, FL. All three hotels were new concepts for their day of which Lewis constructed, as a nod to his native Savannah, Lewis strayed from the Downtowner corporate concept and added the locally inspired Savannah wrought iron railings to fit the locale. The Savannah Ramada Inn was later sold to SCAD in 1987 and converted into the school's first dormitory enabling much of the school's subsequent growth. The adjacent property on Oglethorpe Street still bearing the original JC Lewis signage, the site of second JC Lewis Motor Company location, was also sold to SCAD to become the school's gymnasium - ClubSCAD. Lewis was instrumental (in developing the southside ) of Savannah along Abercorn Street and an adjacent area of the city (presently known as Habersham Woods ), much of which was an outgrowth of his Oakdale tract. He also sold the land that facilitated the construction of Oglethorpe Mall and the subsequent surrounding retail areas. During his tenure in city hall, he was directly responsible for the construction of Savannah Civic Center (completed in 1974), the Planning of the Harry S. Truman Parkway, and played a pivotal role in the revitalization of the city's River Street - now a magnet for tourists. As mayor he also instituted the Model Cities Program, part of a national effort to erase neglect in blighted neighborhoods, and successfully led efforts to (designate Warsaw Island a U.S. Wildlife Refuge ) in 1969. (Construction ) of the cities sewerage treatment plant was also completed during his term. Lewis had a family with Nancy Nelson, including six children and 11 grandchildren. He was an avid yachtsman, amateur radio operator (FCC EXTRA Class), family man, and Sunday School Teacher (Deacon). The businessman and former mayor was one of Georgia's leading figures in the 20th century and one of the south's most generous philanthropists. ==History== In 1966 Lewis became the first Republican mayor of a Georgia city since Reconstruction.〔Savannah Morning News, August 3, 1966〕 His entire slate of six Republican aldermanic candidates were elected to City Hall.〔Savannah Morning News, August 3, 1966〕 Although he did not exploit the racial issues, he benefited from a backlash from White voters against Democratic then popular incumbent Malcolm Maclean. Many White segregationists considered that Maclean was too soft on matters dealing with race. After four years in office Lewis' lost his last minute reelection bid to Democratic nominee John Rousakis succeeded Lewis in 1970.〔Savannah Morning News, August 5, 1970〕 He remained active in the community serving as a director on numerous civic and business boards throughout the southeast until his death. A native of Savannah, J. Curtis Lewis was a prefect at The Woodberry Forest School in Orange, Virginia where he graduated with honors and went on to become an honors graduate (Summa Cum Laude) of the University of Georgia. Lewis was a veteran of the United States Navy, the Coast Guard, and the Merchant Marine. Lewis then embarked on what would become an incredibly successful business career, building wealth and stature in several arenas, but perhaps mostly so in the fields of automotive sales, television broadcasting, and real estate. assistance. In 1929 the general aviation committee] of the Savannah City Council purchased 730 acres (3 km²) Belmont Tract, belonging to Mr. Lewis' father, J. C. Lewis, as the future site of the Savannah Municipal Airport now known as Hunter Army Airfield. Lewis started his life by inheriting Georgia’s oldest Ford dealership from his father and built a diversified family empire. He "proved to be a brilliant businessman, opening additional Ford dealerships in Daytona Beach and Melbourne, Fla., adding new brands to his Savannah dealership, and investing in tractor sales, taxi cab businesses, television and radio stations, hotels, life insurance, yacht sales and real estate." () (Savannah Morning News, 2012), His business interests included numerous television and radio stations, along with new and used car dealerships throughout the southeast; and over a dozen other companies including life insurance, finance corporations, and both commercial and residential real estate development firms. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Julius Curtis Lewis, Jr.」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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