The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 140

Sunday Morning, February 22,1987 Otalueston itailQ Jfttiw 3-J Lewis likes to encourage young people ByROBERTSTANTON News Staff Writer GALVESTON Encouraging young people to achieve is what makes Eugene Lewis tick. As he tells them, "Get all the education you can, be the best at whatever you want to be, and don't be afraid to venture out and take a chance." Lewis, 30, is coordinator of security at the Galveston Independent School District a job that keeps him in constant touch with teen-agers from all walks of life. In the position, Lewis is responsible for directing security for all special programs and sporting events in the 11-school district. But the job entails more than that. It means being a counselor, a psychologist and a big brother to many of the district's 10,000 students.

And to top that off, he supervises a staff of nine full-time and 16 part-time employees. "It's challenging. Every day is different," Lewis said. "I like the interaction with trying to work with the kids to help Born Eugene Alan Lewis II in 1956 to Mary Johnson and Eugene Lewis who is chief of respiratory therapy at Veteran's Hospital in Houston, the younger Lewis has always liked to help people. "I like working with people," the soft-spoken fatner-of-two said, "I like being creative, whether it's off the job or out in the community." After graduating from Ball High School in 1975, Lewis matriculated in and graduated from the Galveston Police Academy, and became one of the youngest blacks ever hired by the Galveston Police Department (GPD).

He also attended College of the Mainland in Texas City, where he majored in criminal justice administration; and later graduated from the Texas Crime Prevention Institute at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos. Upon joining GPD, Lewis quickly got his feet wet on the night shift patrolling Galveston's then- notorious "Red Light" district, which encompassed Market Street and its many all-night area bars. The downtown area was "alive and well" back then. The Sweet Dreams Cafe was notorious for shootings and stabbings, the Edge of Night Club was known for frequent disturbances, and Herb's Ghetto Inn was the subject of many a gambling raid. Being the youngest officer on the force had one advantage, however.

"Everybody sort of looked out for me," Lewis said with a smile. Lewis served 11 years with the department in a variety of divisions, including patrol, identification, criminal investigation, and training and crime prevention. During his GPD tenure, Lewis also helped shape the Junior Police Program into one of the most aggressive of its kind in the state. The program has helped many minority officers become involved in law enforcement from behind the badge, instead of behind bars. He also produced and hosted Channel 12's "Behind the Badge" program, which focused on law- enforcement topics of concern to the community.

And if that weren't enough, he never said "no" when invited to take part in speaking engagements. As if he were afraid to sit still, Lewis plunged head-first into a multitude of activities. He served as president of the Galveston branch of the Texas Peace Officer's Association, and a member of the organization's state board of directors; a member of the Galveston branch of the NAACP; the Galveston Municipal Police Association; the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas; St. Lawrence Masonic Lodge; and West Point Baptist Church. His community involvement resulted in letters and awards of commendation from many organizations, including the Galveston Noon Optimist Club, Bay Area Scouting Council, Galveston Lion's Club, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Center for Transportation and Commerce.

Lewis' many accomplishments also include the development of Island Star Productions in 1979, which continues to bring quality entertainment to the island. The production company, as Lewis put it, "took Juneteenth from a backyard celebration to a citywide festival." After 11 years of service with GPD, Lewis applied for and was hired as GISD's security coordinator. Working with teen-agers, he said, has helped him understand youth. "It's discouraging to encounter kids who have just given up (because of having) no self confidence, no self-esteem. They believe the only way to make it is being bad, being disruptive in order to get attention." Lewis stressed the importance of parental involvement in the children's lives, since "when they don't influence their kid's Eugene Lewis behavior in a positive way, it has a dramatic impact on the environment of While being a teen-ager today is not much different than in the 70s, "kids have much more freedom than we ever dreamed of the things they do, the things they have," he said.

"They engage in activities that I wouldn't have dared thought of Lewis said teen-agers today "are under an enormous amount of pressure "to either do or not to do drugs," which "confuses their priorities. The majority are good kids, but unfortunately are the silent majority." He noted that disciplinary referrals to his office represent roughly 5 percent of the student body. For those who don't know Eugene, he's easy to spot. Just look for the warm smile, the firm handshake and eyes that say he cares. Homeowners insurance Good price HENRTFIEUKNIUIG INUCINCUNC.

S.ffi7«-?111 A-l RENTS TOOLS EQUIPMENT CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS PROPANE BOTTLES FILLED SERVING GALVESTON FOR 24 YEARS" J.P. STRAMBLAD, President 744-3669 Closed Sat. Sun. Scholes Field Municipal Airport at the Gate YOUR COMMUNITY MHMR CENTER Serving the mentally disabled of GalvestonCounty Since 1968 BOARD OF TRUSTEES JOHN BRUHN, Ph.D. Galveston Co.

C.G. DIBRELL, III Galveston, Co. JAMES FLOYD Galveston Co. GLORIA Galveston Co. SALLY ROBINSON, M.O.

Galveston Co. GALVESTON COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES Residential Recreation Lone Oak Ranch 24 hour comprehensive service for juveniles with mental retardation Community Living Center 24 hour program for adults with mental retardation Special Olympics Sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with mental retardation Community Support Outpatient Mainland Industries Sheltered workshop activities, job placement, on-the-job training Day Treatment Personal, social, educational and vocational development, expressive and recreation therapy Galveston Island Community Service Center Case Management, Psychiatric evaluations, Medications, Psychotherapy Texas City La Marque Community Center Case Management, Psychiatric evaluations, Medications, Psychotherapy Technical Vocational Provides psychological, educational, medical and sociological assessments and consultations. Special events and highway litter pickups, janitorial services and workshop activities. 123 Rosenberg Shearn Moody Plaza 763-2373.