Nancy Lewis

Background

Nancy Starr Virtue was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1949 to Reverend Dick and Sue Virtue.

Education

In 1972, Lewis received her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She then returned to her native state and worked toward her Master of Arts in teaching from Oklahoma City University.

Career

She served as a legislator in the from 1982 to 1986. Her efforts while in office were directed toward children and education. Lewis worked for the impartial funding of public schools in Oklahoma.

Before being elected to the House, Lewis was a lobbyist for the OEA (Oklahoma Education Association).

Early in her life, Lewis displayed her passion for social and political issues. While in Harding High School, Lewis traveled the Oklahoma City metro area advocating for racial justice.

Her high school yearbook jokingly predicted Lewis as being the "first white president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People." Education After obtaining her Master"s degree, Lewis taught sociology and psychology at Norman High School until 1977. When Title IX passed, Lewis coached girls" track, leading them to second in state.

In 1977, Lewis returned to Colorado Springs and continued teaching.

In Colorado Lewis concentrated on teaching students with mental health or behavioral issues. Lewis also became a lobbyist for the OEA (Oklahoma Education Association). She worked for two years as the government relations coordinator for the OEA as well.

In 1982, Lewis was elected to the, representing district 53.

She served for two terms until 1986. While in office, Lewis concentrated her efforts toward children and education.

She advocated for impartial funding for public schools and authored a bill that made the selling or giving of cigarettes or cigarette papers to a minor a misdemeanor. Lewis had the reputation of thoroughly reading all bills, asking tough questions, and demanding straight information.

After leaving office, Lewis continued lobbying for legislation concerning children and education.

Committees Chair of the Education Committee Lewis did not run for a third term and left the political arena to get a law passed to start Sooner Start, a program that provides government assistance to children under six years old. Lewis served as the first director of Sooner Start. After this campaign, Lewis became the executive director of the Oklahoma County Medical Society.

She later became the administrator at Tulsa Community College.

Oklahoma University President David Boren later asked Lewis to lead the OU portion of the University Center at Tulsa. She served as vice-president of OU-Tulsa until she was forced into retirement due to illness in 2005.

Lewis died in 2014. Community Involvement Member and President of the Tulsa County Library Commission Founding trustee of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence.

Achievements

• In 1992, Lewis left her job again to help her husband campaign, helping him achieve the position of United States. Attorney in Tulsa.

Membership

Board member of the Foundation for Tulsa Schools and the Community Service Council.