Cecil Lewis

Cecil D. Lewis, Jr. of Golden, Colo., passed away on Feb. 27, 2012, after a short illness. He was born Oct. 23, 1933, in Rehobeth, N.M., to Cecil D. Lewis, Sr. and Helen M. Lewis. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sheila; son Terry and his wife Kristi; daughter Debbie and her husband Dave Youngblood; son Wayne; grandchildren Jennifer and David Youngblood; John Cloutier (and his wife Lisa) and Katie Trimble; and great grandchildren Esau and Isabel Cloutier. He was preceded in death by his parents. His early years were spent on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico and Arizona where his parents worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Cecil was a third-generation Department of Interior employee and an enrolled member of the Sauk and Fox Tribe of Oklahoma. He was a top student and multi-sport athlete and graduated from Central High School, Kirtland, N.M., in 1950 and attended Fort Lewis College at Hesperus, Colo., before transferring to Arizona State College at Flagstaff (now Northern Arizona University). During the Korean Conflict he served with the U.S. Navy aboard the heavy cruiser USS Toledo and was later transferred to shore duty at Tacoma, Wash. Cecil began his National Park Service career in 1957 as a seasonal ranger at Wupatki-Sunset Crater National Monuments in Arizona, which was followed by an appointment as caretaker. He resigned from the NPS in 1958 to continue his education at Arizona State where he received a bachelor’s degree in Biological Science in 1960. During his return to college he worked as a deputy sheriff in Coconino County, Ariz., and as a seasonal ranger at Walnut Canyon National Monument, Ariz. In 1960 he returned to the Service as a museum curator in the Southwest Archeological Center in Globe, Ariz. He was transferred to Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, as a park naturalist; to Mesa Verde National Park, Colo., as a park ranger; Rocky Mountain National Park, Colo., as the supervisory ranger; Pipestone National Monument, Minn., as park superintendent; Badlands National Monument, S.D., as park superintendent; to Dinosaur National Monument, Colo., as park superintendent; and finally to Rocky Mountain Regional Offices in Denver as park ranger/executive assistant to regional director. He retired on May 9, 1987. Cecil was the first Native American superintendent in the NPS. Cecil was a member of the Miner R. Tillotson session of Ranger Trainees (1962) in the last class held at Yosemite National Park before the Horace M. Albright Training center opened at Grand Canyon National Park. He left each area a little better for his service. At Pipestone he conceived the idea for what is now the Upper Midwest Indian Cultural Center, providing jobs for Native craft workers. He took a number of friends back to Colorado to collect teepee poles for the Hiawatha Pagent. At Badlands he negotiated with the Oglala Sioux over legislation for the South Unit. He assisted at Mt. Rushmore during the American Indian Movement demonstrations. At Dinosaur he facilitated the wild horse round-up and a strong recovery of the peregrine falcon. In 1972, Cecil served as a deputy secretary general of the Second World Conference and the Centennial of the National Park System. He received a Superior Performance award (1967) and a Special Achievement Award (1972). For a majority of his life, he was active in regional rodeos where he and his children participated in the Little Britches and high school circuts. He was an avid hunter and angler and introduced his children to those pursuits. His love of sports and competitive nature was also passed on to his children and grandchildren. Always interested in history, Cecil started assembling black-powder rifles and amassing a collection of other artifacts, attempting to recreate the history of fur traders and trappers. He participated in re-enactments at Bent’s Fort, the Buffalo Bill Museum and at many other locations and events. He was a fixture at many American Mountain Man camps and various National Rendezvous. He had a full life! A celebration of his life is being planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions suggested to the American Lung Association. Condolences may be sent to the Lewis Family, 1045 Youngfield St., Golden, CO 80401.