Delano Lewis, former US ambassador and longtime Las Cruces resident, dies at 84

Delano Lewis Sr., former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa and longtime resident of Las Cruces, passed away Aug. 2 at the age of 84.

Lewis served as ambassador for over two years, appointed by President Bill Clinton in 2000. He also served several years with the U.S. Peace Corps in Africa and was the president and CEO of National Public Radio in the 1990s.

He lived in Las Cruces with his wife, Gayle Lewis, for over 20 years.

Early beginnings in the Midwest to making waves in D.C.

Lewis was born in Arkansas City, Kansas on Nov. 12, 1938 and grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. His sense of leadership started early with his role as drum major of the Sumner High School band.

He went on to study at the University of Kansas and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1960. According to the obituary Lewis’ family wrote, he worked on the Great Northern Railroad over the summers. He served passengers as a waiter from St. Paul, Minnesota to Seattle.

Around this time, Lewis also married Gayle Lewis. The couple would go on to enjoy over six decades of marriage.

“My mother was really, as I say, she was the wind beneath his wings,” Geoffrey Lewis said. “If it wasn't for them being a team, I don't think my father would be as successful as he was. They got married very early in life, and they stayed together as partners. And it was just amazing how the two of them worked together.”

Lewis graduated with his juris doctorate degree in 1963 from Washburn University School of Law and was quickly appointed to work in the U.S. Department of Justice as a staff attorney.

Over the years, Lewis held various roles, including:

• 1965 – Joined the Office of Analysis and Advice of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

• 1966-1969 – Served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Africa as associate director in Nigeria and country director in Uganda

• 1969-1971 – Legislative assistant to Sen. Edward Brooke of Massachusetts

• 1971-1973 – Administrative assistant to Congressman Walter E. Fauntroy of D.C.

• 1973-1984 – Executive with the C&P Telephone Company in D.C. (a subsidiary of AT&T)

• 1984-1994 – Officer of Bell Atlantic (now Verizon) before retiring as president and CEO of D.C. operations

• 1994-1998 – President and CEO of NPR

• 1999-2001 – U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa

Lewis also served on many boards of directors and trustees throughout his career, including Black Entertainment Television (BET), Eastman Kodak Company, The Halliburton Company, The Washington Performing Arts Society and The United Negro College Fund.

Relocating to Las Cruces, New Mexico

Lewis’ son, Geoffrey Lewis Sr., explained that his father was asked by KRWG – the local NPR affiliate – in the 1990s to travel to Las Cruces during a fundraising event.

“My mother had come to Las Cruces, oh, maybe 30 or so years ago … and so she asked my father how he liked it,” Geoffrey Lewis said. “And he said, ‘well, I really didn’t get a chance to see much of Las Cruces while I was here.’”

He said his parents returned to southern New Mexico a few weeks later and “fell in love” with the area. The couple soon bought a house in Las Cruces and split their time between New Mexico and Washington, D.C. until Lewis retired from NPR.

Several family members followed in their footsteps in moving west, including Geoffrey Lewis and his family.

President Bill Clinton’s ambassadorship nominee

Lewis participated in then President-Elect Bill Clinton’s Economic Summit in December 1992. He was also invited to co-chair the National Information Infrastructure Advisory Council by then Vice President Al Gore from 1994 to 1996.

In 1999, Clinton turned to Lewis when considering his nominations for foreign diplomat positions. Lewis was nominated in June 1999 to be the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa.

He was confirmed by the senate on Nov. 10, 1999 and assumed the ambassadorship on Dec. 22, 1999. He remained in the role of diplomat until retiring on July 13, 2001.

Delano Lewis’ later years

Back in Las Cruces, Lewis stepped into the role of senior fellow at New Mexico State University and established the Institute for International Relations.

NMSU Interim President Jay Gogue said in a statement, “Ambassador Lewis had a tremendous heart for service, and his service to New Mexico State University was deeply impactful. As a senior fellow for global affairs, he helped guide our university in forming lasting international relationships and partnerships that will benefit our students and our communities for years to come. I’m very grateful for the expertise he shared and the friendship he offered to NMSU.”

Delano Lewis wrote two books, “It All Begins With Self,” which was published in 2015 and “No Condition is Permanent,” published in 2018.

Lewis is survived by his wife of 63 years, Gayle Lewis; their four sons, Del, Jr., Geoffrey, Brian and Phill; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Geoffrey Lewis said the family is planning a celebration of life in Las Cruces on Nov. 12, Delano Lewis’ birthday. Details will be announced as the celebration draws closer for the public to attend.

“Everybody has just been so supportive in Las Cruces. We're just so blessed to have such a great community here and just rally around the Lewis family,” Geoffrey Lewis said.

He added that he believes his father would want to be remembered as a spiritual man and a family man, who never stopped wanting to listen and learn all he spoke with. He said his father also loved watching his family grow and was very close with all of his grandchildren.

“It's really been amazing. There's just been so many great words from people all over the country about my father and the way that he impacted and touched their lives,” Geoffrey Lewis said. “The words that sort of come out (are) a very smart and caring individual.”

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Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, LRomero@lcsun-news.com or @rromero_leah on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Delano Lewis, former US ambassador and longtime Las Crucen, dies at 84