Knox College Athletics

A native of Abingdon, Illinois, John Lewis served as manager of Abingdon Potteries and the president of ceramic manufacturing at Briggs & Company in Galesburg.  At the time of his death in 1978, he was vice president of Roosevelt National Investment Company in Springfield.  Lewis also was president of the Abingdon school board, director of the Illinois Association of School Boards, and was a member of the committee that established Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg.  He won nine varsity letters at Knox—in football, basketball, and track—as well as the Hunter Trophy.  His pole vault mark of 12 ’10 ¾” set school and conference records in 1929.  In 1958, Lewis was named to the Sports Illustrated Silver Anniversary All-America squad.