.jpg) Lewis in 1962 | |||||||
| No. 30, 20, 47, 23 | |||||||
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| Position: | Defensive back /Wide receiver /Running back | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | (1925-06-14)June 14, 1925 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | ||||||
| Died: | December 29, 2000(2000-12-29) (aged 75) Los Angeles, California, U.S. | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Manual Arts (CA) | ||||||
| College: | Oregon | ||||||
| NFL draft: | 1950: 8th round, 103rd pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Woodley Carl Lewis, Jr. (June 14, 1925 – December 29, 2000) was anAmerican footballend,wide receiver anddefensive back in theNational Football League (NFL). He played eleven seasons for theLos Angeles Rams, theChicago Cardinals, and theDallas Cowboys. He playedcollege football for theUniversity of Oregon.
Lewis attendedManual Arts High School, before moving on to theLos Angeles City College. After his sophomore year he accepted a scholarship from theUniversity of Oregon.
In1948, he was a teammate ofNorm Van Brocklin and was the startinghalfback (he missed 3 games with an injury). Oregon tied withCalifornia for the title of thePacific Coast Conference, forerunner of thePac-12. California was undefeated overall, and Oregon's only loss was at undefeatedMichigan,[1][2] that year'snational champions. Oregon did not go to theRose Bowl, however, because Cal was voted by the other schools to represent the PCC in the game. They would lose 13-21 in theCotton Bowl againstSouthern Methodist University. He also became the firstAfrican-American to play in theCotton Bowl Stadium.[3] In 1949, he led the nation in kickoff returns, ranked seventh in pass interceptions (8) and led his team in rushing with 473 yards (6.8-yard average).
He finished his college eligibility as the school's record-holder in career kickoff return average (34.1 avg.), single-season return average (43.2), career rushing yards per carry (5.6), longest punt return (92 yards against Oregon State, 1949) and longest kickoff return (102 yards against Colorado, 1949).
In 1999, he was inducted into theUniversity of Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into theOregon Sports Hall of Fame.
Lewis was selected by theLos Angeles Rams in the eighth round (103rd overall) of the1950 NFL draft, becoming the thirdAfrican-American ever drafted in theNational Football League.[4]
He earned the starting position atright cornerback and registered an interception in his first professional game. As a rookie, he finished the season with a team record 12 interceptions (second in the league) and 275 interception return yards (first in the league).[5] He was the only Rams rookie to ever be named to aPro Bowl until1962 (Merlin Olsen). The next year, he played on offense and defense, helping the Rams become NFL champions for the second time in franchise history.
In1953, he led the league in kickoff return yards with 830 (league record) and punt return yards with 267. Of special significance was his game against theDetroit Lions, when he registered 294 combined return yards (league record), with 120 punt return yards (including a 78-yardtouchdown return) and 174 kickoff return yards, in a 31-19 win.[6]
The next year, he led the league again in kickoff return yards with 836, breaking his own league record. In1955, he was moved towide receiver.
On September 24,1956, he was traded to theChicago Cardinals in exchange for a draft choice.[7] During his time with the Rams, he played as acornerback,running back,wide receiver and onspecial teams.
In1956, he played as adefensive back. The next year, he was moved towide receiver and was third on his team in receiving yards with 424. He also led the league in all purpose yards with 1,281, was second in kickoff return yards with 682 and third in punt return yards with 175.
In1958, he led the team in receiving, registering 46 receptions (sixth on the league) and 690 receiving yards (sixth on the league).
On September 16,1960, He was traded to theDallas Cowboys. He was one of only three players to never miss a game during the decade of the 1950s, the others beingLeo Nomellini andEmlen Tunnell.
Lewis was a part of the franchise'sinaugural season.[8] As the team's elder statesman and a reservewide receiver, he appeared in 6 games and registered one reception for 19 yards. He was released on November 10.
On December 29, 2000, he died of heart and kidney problems.[9]
In 1962, he invested in a 36-lane bowling alley with an adjacent restaurant and cocktail lounge at 1950 North Central Avenue, becoming one of the firstAfrican-American business owners in Compton.[10]
