Dr. George Elder Lewis, Jr.

Dr. George E. Lewis, Jr., DVM, PHD, DACVM, COL (RET.) USA, 81, passed away at Kline Hospice House on September 22, 2024, after a long and tenaciously fought battle with prostate cancer. George, son of George E. Lewis, Sr. and Marjorie Yeagle Lewis, was born on September 1, 1943, in Miami, FL, and grew-up in Hialeah near to the Everglades (where he met his wife Pam when she rescued him after his boat broke down). He attended Hialeah High School, and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science from the University of Florida, where as a 1966 Distinguished Military Graduate he was commissioned in the Regular Army. He attended Auburn University, and received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1970. Dr. Lewis was selected to participate in a long-term graduate program at the University of Illinois, receiving a Ph.D. in Microbiology in 1977. Colonel Lewis commanded the U.S. Army Medical Research Unit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for seven years (1982-89). In 1989, he accepted the Pentagon responsibilities of both the Executive Assistant to the Assistant Surgeon General for Medical Research and Development, and the Army Surgeon General’s Liaison to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development and Acquisition. He was the senior medical Biological Warfare Defense Expert in the Pentagon during Operations Desert Shield and Storm. For five years (1990-1996), he was the consultant to The Army Surgeon General for Veterinary microbiology, physiology, pharmacology, and toxicology. Colonel Lewis was a U.S. Delegate to the 1991 United Nations Biological Weapons Convention Review Conference. In August 1992, he became Program Manager for Combat Medical Systems, and assumed command of the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Fort Detrick; a responsibility which he relinquished at the completion of thirty years of service in the Army. Thereafter, for fourteen years he served as an independent consultant for General Dynamics Corporation, and as the facilitator for the U.S. Army Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center’s Product Line Review process. He also served as a consultant for the Medical Red Team, and as a member of the Federal Health Care Executive Institute A.A. Doctor Lewis received the Department of the Army Research and Development Achievement Award, and authored over fifty scientific publications. His military awards include the Legion of Merit (2 OLC), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), and the National Defense Service Medal (with Star). He was also a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists. In 1998, the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States recognized Colonel Lewis with the James A. McCallam Award for his outstanding accomplishments in the field of medicine and health. He was a recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution National Medal of Honor, and was twice awarded the DAR Historical Preservation Medal. He was awarded the Superintendent’s Award for Excellence in Citizen Stewardship (C&O Canal National Historical Park), the Tourism Council of Frederick County Ambassador of the Year (2011) award, the Fort Detrick Alliance 2013 Colonel Mark L. Hoke Fort Detrick Distinguished Service Award, and the 2014 Preservation Maryland Volunteer award. In 2016, he received the George Delaplaine "Good Citizen" award, presented annually to an outstanding Frederick County citizen who has lived up to the ideals of the Scouting Oath and Law. Amongst his many civic volunteer activities, Doctor Lewis served as Chair of the C&O Canal National Historical Park Advisory Commission (National Park Service), and was a Hood College Trustee Emeritus, Past President of the Sergeant Lawrence Everhart Chapter/National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, a past member of the Frederick County Forestry Conservancy District Board, past treasurer of the Francis Scott Key Memorial Foundation, an early advisor to the C&O Canal Trust, founder of the Catoctin Aqueduct Restoration Fund, a past C&O Canal Association Board member, and founder of the Lander Community Association. George served on the boards of the Community Foundation of Frederick County, Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Rotary Club of Frederick, Point of Rocks Community Historical Society, and the Weinberg Center for The Arts. He was also a Past President of the District of Columbia Veterinary Medical Association, the Rotary Club of Frederick (2002-2003), the Fort Detrick Alliance (2007-2009), and a 1989 Joint Master of the Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Hash House Harriers. George also was an active member of the Society of the Cincinnati, and served on the Standing Committee of the State Society of the Cincinnati of Pennsylvania. In addition to his many volunteer activities, George enjoyed working on his and Pam’s farm in Lander (near Jefferson), MD, raising beef cattle, hunting, scavenging for figs and pawpaws, bird watching, and genealogy. George is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Pamela H. Lewis, son George III and wife, Michele, and his daughter Alisa; granddaughter Alexandria and husband Anthony, and great grandchildren, Savannah, Natalie, and Finley. He is also survived by sister Judy Lewis Harrell and husband William Harrell, sister Janice Pendley, and his niece and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, and his grandson Kristopher F. Lewis. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, from 4 pm to 7 pm, at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 East Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Visitation will also be held on Thursday, October 3, 2024, from 1 pm to 2 pm, followed by the Service from 2 pm to 3 pm, both also at Keeney and Basford. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, MD, following the Service. Friends are invited to join George’s family for Visitation, Service, and burial, as well as at a Celebration of Life Reception from 4 pm to 6 pm following the burial, at Dutch’s Daughter, 581 Himes Avenue, Frederick, MD 21703. Flowers are welcome. If you would like to make an In Memoriam contribution in honor of George, the family requests that contributions be made to the C&O Canal Trust, 142 W. Potomac Street, Williamsport, MD 21795, https://www.canaltrust.org/, or to an appropriate charity of your choice.