[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 20067-20068]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      IN REMEMBRANCE OF GUY LEWIS

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 10, 2015

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Thanksgiving is meant to remind us of 
all the things in our lives we're grateful for. For many, this year's 
Thanksgiving came and went in its usual form: spent in the presence of 
loved ones and those who are closest to our hearts. But for others, 
this Thanksgiving was spent under a bittersweet shadow. Early that 
morning, Houstonians, Cougar alumni, basketball fans, and many others 
bid farewell to a legend: Guy Lewis.
  Guy Lewis was more than just a basketball coach. His innovations, 
both on and off the court, left ripples in our society that we still 
feel today. He was born in a tiny town in East Texas, where he lived 
until enlisting in the Army during World War II. Following the war, 
Lewis enrolled at the University of Houston, my alma mater, and joined 
the basketball team. He was instantly one of the best players on the 
team, averaging over 21 points per game as he led the Cougars to a 
conference championship. After college he worked as an assistant coach 
at UH under then-coach Alden Pasche. After Pasche's retirement in 1956, 
Lewis was appointed the new head coach of the Cougars; and the rest, as 
they say, is history.
  Under Lewis' 30-year watch, the Cougars enjoyed one of the best 
spells in collegiate basketball history. He led his teams to 27 
straight winning seasons, 14 NCAA tournament appearances, 5 Final 
Fours, and two NCAA title games. Though he never won a national title, 
he is still universally recognized as one of the greatest coaches in 
the history of the game. Despite all of his successes on the court, it 
was his actions off the court that many use to define Coach Lewis' 
lasting legacy.
  Prior to Guy Lewis, the University of Houston had never had an 
African-American player in its basketball program. According to former 
All-American, NBA All-Star, and member of Houston's first desegregated 
basketball team, Elvin Hayes, Lewis ``put everything on the line to 
step out and integrate his program.'' It was trailblazing like this and 
his fearless attitude that set Coach Lewis apart from the rest. Guy 
Lewis didn't care about what people thought, but he cared about doing 
what was right for his players and his school. He dedicated 40 years to 
the university as a student and as a coach, from his first day of 
college in 1946 through his last day as a coach in 1986. Even after his 
retirement Lewis was heavily involved with the school and its athletic 
department. His dedication to the institution he called home, the 
institution he helped evolve for the better, never once wavered.
  I remember sitting in the stands of the Astrodome in 1968 watching 
the ``Game of the Century'' that Coach Lewis helped organize. The 
undefeated UCLA Bruins, led by legendary coach John Wooden, came into 
the game riding a 47-game winning streak. This was the first nationally 
televised regular season collegiate basketball game in the history of 
the sport. Over 52,000 fans--myself included--went to the game, which 
set the record for the largest basketball crowd in history. I remember 
that game fondly. I can still see Coach Lewis on the sideline waving 
his red, polka-dotted towel that he seemed to always have with him. Led 
by the previously mentioned Elvin Hayes, the Houston Cougars went on to 
win 71-69.
  After coaching the Cougars to back-to-back Final Fours in 1967 and 
'68, he then guided his team to a trio of Final Fours in 1982, '83, and 
'84. Those teams, known simply as ``Phi Slama Jama,'' featured 
superstars Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon, two members of both the 
NCAA and NBA Halls of Fame. Those teams emphasized a fast-paced, 
exciting style of play that helped revolutionize the game forever.
  When remembering Coach Lewis, we needn't just remember the legendary 
wins or

[[Page 20068]]

the legendary players that he coached, but also his integrity and 
dedication. Whether it was his innovative work on the court or off, all 
of us familiar with the life of Coach Lewis have nothing but fond 
memories of the man. His legacy will live on.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________