{{Short description|American politician (1934–2022)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Gerald A. Lewis | image = Compt Gerald Lewis.jpg | image_size = | caption = Jerry Lewis, 1975 | office = Florida State Comptroller | term = January 7, 1975 – January 3, 1995 | office1 = Member of the Florida House of Representatives | term1 = 1966–1970 | birth_date = {{birth date|1934|3|31}} | birth_place = Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2022|1|25|1934|3|31}} | death_place = | party = Democratic | alma_mater = Harvard University | spouse = {{marriage|Ann Lewis||1968|end=div}} | children = Patricia, Bethellen and Susan | allegiance = {{flag|United States}} | branch = {{army|United States}} | service_years = | rank = Captain | unit = Paratrooper }}
'''Gerald Alvin Lewis''' (March 31, 1934 – January 25, 2022) was an American attorney and politician who served in the Florida House of Representatives and was the 26th comptroller of the State of Florida, serving from January 7, 1975, to January 3, 1995.<ref name="handbook">{{cite book |title=The Florida Handbook |last=Morris |first=Allen Covington |author-link=Allen Morris (historian) |year=1981 |publisher=Peninsular Pub. Co. |volume=18 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0-iHAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Lewis,+Gerald+Alvin%22+AND+%22Comptroller%22}}</ref>
==Life and career== Born in 1934 in Birmingham, Alabama, to Bernard and Molly Lewis, Gerald Lewis was educated in Birmingham schools before attending Harvard College and graduating with an A.B. degree in 1955. He then spent the next two years on active duty as a paratrooper with the United States Army, attaining the rank of captain.<ref name="handbook" />
[[File:Florida State Reps taking oath from CJ Campbell Thornal on opening day of House session in Tallahassee, April 1967 (left to right, Gerald Lewis, Marrice Ferre, Kenneth Myers, Louis Wolfson II, Murray Dubbin, Carey Matthews).jpg|thumb|right|Lewis and other state reps being administered their oath of office by Chief Justice B. Campbell Thornal on April 4, 1967 (left to right: Lewis, Maurice Ferré, Kenneth M. Myers, Louis Wolfson II, Murray Dubbin, Carey Matthews)]]
Lewis moved to Florida in 1960. Prior to moving, he returned to Harvard to obtain a LL.B degree.<ref name="handbook" /> He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1965 for Dade County, Florida, and served until 1970. He later served as the state comptroller under governors Reubin Askew, Bob Graham, Bob Martinez, and Lawton Chiles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/FileStores/Web/HouseContent/Approved/Public%20Guide/Uploads/Documents/house_counties_final.pdf |title=Membership of the Florida House of Representatives by County, 1845-2012 |author=Ward, Robert L. / Florida House of Representatives |year=2011 |access-date=December 11, 2011}}</ref>
Lewis was married to national Democratic Party political strategist Ann Lewis until their 1968 divorce.
Lewis died on January 25, 2022, at the age of 87.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cotterell|first=Bill|date=January 25, 2022|title='He faithfully served': Former Florida Comptroller Gerald Lewis dies at 87|url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2022/01/25/former-florida-comptroller-gerald-lewis-dies-87-obituary/9210664002/|access-date=January 28, 2022|website=Tallahassee Democrat|language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Fred Otis Dickinson}} {{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Florida Comptroller|years=1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994}} {{s-aft|after=Newall Jerome Daughtrey}} {{s-end}}
{{Florida Comptrollers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lewis, Gerald A.}} Category:1934 births Category:2022 deaths Category:Jewish American military personnel Category:Florida comptrollers Category:Democratic Party members of the Florida House of Representatives Category:20th-century members of the Florida Legislature Category:Harvard College alumni Category:Harvard Law School alumni Category:21st-century American Jews