As a running back at Lincoln University Lewis was nicknamed " The Lincoln Locomotive".
Lewis still holds school records for touchdowns in a season (22), touchdowns in a career (64), rushing yards in a season (1,239) and career rushing yards (4,457).
After a stellar college career, Lewis signed with the of the Canadian Football League. He was named All-Pro six times and eventually earned a spot in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. During his 11-year career in the Canadian Football League he rushed for 8,861 yards with a 6.6 yard average.
He also was a remarkable kick-returner, averaging 29.1 yards on kickoff returns in his Canadian Football League career.
Lewis was voted one of the Canadian Football League"s top 50 players (#29) in a poll conducted by Canadian sports network TSN. His career rushing total of 8,861 yards stood as a Winnipeg Blue Bomber record for 41 years until it was passed by Charles Roberts in 2007. His career totals in return yardage, and yards per carry, still stand as Blue Bombers records.
Lewis was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1973. He was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in August 2005.
Also, in 2005, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the team the Blue Bombers named their 20 All-Time Blue Bombers Greats, of which Lewis was a member.
He was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in 2005. He had three children, two of whom played professional gridiron football (one for the Minnesota Vikings – Leo Lewis III – and the other for the USFL Denver Gold and Oakland Invaders and the Canadian Football League"s Ottawa Rough Riders and the Calgary Stampeders – Marc Lewis). Leo Lewis died on Friday August 30 at his home in Missouri.
He was 80 years old.
