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William M. Lewis (1921-2010)
Professor William M. Lewis was born in Faison, North Carolina, on 26 November 1921 -- the youngest of nine children. He obtained his Bachelor's degree from North Carolina State University in 1943. In the same year, he married Sue D. Sparks, a zoologist specializing in the study of insects; together they raised five children. During World War II, Lt. Bill Lewis served as a gunnery officer aboard the battleship Colorado. After discharge from the Navy, he attended Iowa State University, where he obtained his Master's ('48) and Ph.D. ('49) degrees in zoology, specializing in fisheries science. In 1949, he began teaching at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and soon was the founder and director of the SIUC Cooperative Fisheries Research Laboratory. From 1973-1979, he also chaired the Department of Zoology. Although he retired in 1983 and returned to Faison (NC), he remained associated with SIUC and was actively engaged in research for several years. Under his direction, the Fisheries Research Laboratory (later renamed the SIUC Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center) became one of the most productive units at SIUC. Thirteen doctorates and over one hundred master's degrees were awarded to fisheries students under his direction. He was a noted authority in fisheries science, published over 75 research papers, and was President of the American Fisheries Society during 1982-1983.
In addition to his other activities, Professor Lewis was involved in aquaculture research in Brazil and offered an intensive short-course on aquaculture for Brazilians in the fall of 1981. He was an authority on many aspects of warm water aquaculture, and his work has particular application to tropical nations. He, along with researchers in the SIUC Department of Botany, developed a system for combining fish culture with horticulture (hydroponics), whereby vegetable crops utilize the nitrogenous waste products from the fish. The recirculating system allows for production of two crops, fish and vegetables, while at the same time conserves water. In 1982, Dr. Lewis established and managed the Carolina Fish Hatchery near Faison (NC) plus another fish farm in Pender County (NC). He died in North Carolina on 15 May 2010.
In 1995, Dr. Lewis received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Fisheries Society.
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Last updated: 7-Sep-11 / ghw