James R. Lewis (legislator)

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For other people with the same name, see James Lewis.

James R. Lewis (May 3, 1936 – October 9, 2020) was an evangelist, businessman and former Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, who was removed from office after being convicted of perjury.[1]

Background[edit]

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.[2] An ordained minister, Lewis founded Christian Bible Fellowship, a regional missionary society, in 1988.

Legislative service[edit]

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.[3] 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.[4] He saw no challenge in the 1976 primary and was reelected easily.[5] In 1978 he was re-elected without opposition.[6]

Conviction and removal from office[edit]

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[7][8] (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.[9] Lewis, apologized, saying he "...made a very, very serious mistake and I regret that very much."[10] 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.[7][10][11]

Under the relevant provisions of Wisconsin law, Lewis was removed from office.[12] In the subsequent special election, Mary Panzer was elected to take his place.

After removal[edit]

Lewis worked for a family owned business, Sunseed Natural Foods, in West Bend.[13] 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.[14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Lewis, James R. 1936". Dictionary of Wisconsin History. Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  2. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. The state of Wisconsin 1973 blue book Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; p. 57
  3. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. The state of Wisconsin 1973 blue book Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; p. 827
  4. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. The state of Wisconsin 1975 blue book Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; pp. 803, 830
  5. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. The state of Wisconsin 1977 blue book. Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; pp. 893, 915
  6. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., Editors. The state of Wisconsin 1979–1980 blue book. Madison, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau; p. 925
  7. ^ a b "Dreyfus won't go to bat for Lewis". The Milwaukee Journal. November 24, 1979. p. 6. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
  8. ^ "Odd Laser Scheme". The Daily Union Democrat. August 29, 1979. p. 2. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  9. ^ UPI. "Solon convicted of making, selling laser gun." Rome News-Tribune August 29, 1979; p. A-2.
  10. ^ a b UPI. "Legislator pleads guilty to lying on laser gun plan." Bangor Daily News August 30, 1979; p.2
  11. ^ [1] | Lewis v. Coursolle Broadcasting | Annotate this Case | 127 Wis. 2d 105 (1985) | 377 N.W.2d 166 | [2]
  12. ^ Johnson, Raymond E. "5 vie to replace ousted legislator." Milwaukee Journal December 27, 1979; p. Accent North 6
  13. ^ "Sunseed Natural Foods, Inc". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-10-29.
  14. ^ Steffes, Judy (October 22, 2020). "James Lewis, 84, of Wisconsin Dells formerly of the Town of Barton". Obituary. Washington County Insider. Retrieved May 26, 2021.

External links[edit]

Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by
District Created
 Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 53rd district
January 1, 1973–November 21, 1979 		Succeeded by
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