Horace Edgar LEWIS

Born: Pontardulais, Wales in 1882. Died: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, December 5, 1948.

Lewis came to the United States at the age of 14 and rose to become vice president of the Bethlehem Steel Company.

Lewis played IR for the Bethlehem F.C. -- before it became the Bethlehem Steel F.C. He was largely responsible for the team coming under the protection of the Bethlehem Steel company and was the driving force behind the great Bethlehem Steel teams from 1915 through to 1930. He was also instrumental in the formation of the American Soccer League, becoming its first president. He donated the Lewis Cup, which at first was awarded to the winners of the special ASL cup competition, and later for a while to the league champions. However, he became disillusioned with soccer as a result of the war between the ASL and the USFA in 1928 and for a while withdrew the Lewis Cup from competition. He later became chairman of the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company of Columbus, Ohio and then president of Jones and Laughlin.

He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1950.

Source: Colin Jose, Historian, National Soccer Hall of Fame
Photo: From collection of Larry Sheridan


Player Biographies
Bethlehem Steel Soccer Club