News Detail
Tom Lewis: Colonel, architect, public servant and now, lawyer
(04/30/2008, Tallahassee Democrat )
Tom Lewis, former secretary at the Department of Management Services, became the newest admission to the Florida Bar on Tuesday afternoon.
Lewis, a former Air Force colonel, architect and public servant, will take a position with local firm Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar, for whom he has been a special consultant for 15 months. He has always had an interest in law after watching his father, Tom Lewis Sr., who was once a judge in Georgia.
"My dad said from the time I could speak I was argumentative," Lewis said with a smile. "I must be a poster child that it's never too late. It's never too late to do something that is in your heart, but it takes a lot of help at this age."
Lewis graduated with honors from Florida State University's College of Law in December. While fellow students were stressing and studying, he was running a state agency with more than 900 employees and responsibility for many millions of dollars in spending during his tenure.
In an intimate ceremony at the Florida Supreme Court, the Georgia native was sworn in by Justice Charles T. Wells. The pair have been friends and business acquaintances since the 1970s when both were involved civically in Orange County.
"I was very honored that Tom wanted me to do that. I think that the most unique thing about Tom's situation is that he is starting his legal career as a second career," Wells said with a laugh. "It's certainly a very great accomplishment for Tom who has been serving the state in various capacities to have gone forward and completed his law school courses, taken the Florida Bar and be in a position to be sworn in."
John Pelham, president at Pennington, said the firm's newest attorney will be a "tremendous asset" because of his extensive background in state government and development. Lewis spent nearly 30 years as an architect, including a stint as vice president of development for The Walt Disney Co., before being appointed DMS secretary by Gov. Jeb Bush. He was in the Air Force for 29 years (18 years in the reserves).
"I had the benefit in these state jobs to have a law firm within our agencies," Lewis said. "When I was with Disney, we had a lot of lawyers because I was in real estate development."
While it may take awhile to become accustomed to another career switch, Lewis said trying his first case will get his adrenaline flowing.
"He's been such a great role model for my brother and me," said daughter Laura Stone, who herself is a state employee. "It was a proud moment for me to be here for Dad. We have watched him study, we have watched him angst ... and yet he's persevered."
By Will Brown
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER