[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 17, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN MEMORIAM RODNEY LEWIS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KYRSTEN SINEMA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 17, 2018

  Ms. SINEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of 
Rodney Lewis who passed away on April 10, 2018 at the age of 77. Mr. 
Lewis was an Arizona native and a member of the Gila River Indian 
Community. He became a trailblazer in water policy, tribal sovereignty, 
and Indian law. Our state will miss him dearly.
  In 1980, Mr. Lewis was the first Native American attorney to appear 
before the Supreme Court. As the lead attorney for the Gila River 
community, Mr. Lewis won part of the largest tribal water settlement in 
U.S. history. He also was the founding chair of Arizona Bar's Indian 
Law section. In 2017, he was appointed to the Central Arizona Water 
Conservation District Board. The board helps to manage the Central 
Arizona Project, where Mr. Lewis was able to represent tribal 
interests.
  Mr. Lewis served in the United States Army from 1962 to 1965 where he 
served as a Ranger and achieved the rank of First Lieutenant. He 
received his bachelor's of science from Trinity University in 1962, a 
master's in history from Arizona State University in 1969, and a law 
degree from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1972.
  Mr. Lewis is survived by his wife, Wiilardene, daughter Katherine 
Elizabeth, sons Stephen Roe and John Blaine, and a host of 
grandchildren. His son, Stephen, currently serves as Governor of the 
Gila River Indian Community. Please join me in honoring his memory.

                          ____________________