Leo E. Lewis, Jr. Memorial Practitioner Award
Each year, the Lewis Sports Foundation (LSF) awards grants to local practitioners. At least two sports professionals are presented small tokens of appreciation for their tireless work and effort to service youth. These awards are designated to provide support to each practitioner and their organization.
The Leo E. Lewis, Jr. Memorial Practitioner Award is given to recognize outstanding effort as a coaching or administrative professional who tirelessly works in leadership and sport positions in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. We target those individuals who teach and/or coach young people despite the odds that confront them as they succeed.
We'd like to recognize Leo E. Lewis, Jr. Memorial Practitioner Award recipient:
2025
DeWayne Combs
Murray School
DeWayne A. Combs is currently a middle school physical education teacher at Murray School in St. Paul. He has taught in St. Paul for the last 34 years believing teaching and working with youth is his “calling”. He truly believes that he was placed on earth to work with kids. He has 47 years in youth work to prove it.
He continues working with the Minneapolis Latchkey program and the Minneapolis Crisis Nursery. His resume includes a career in only three sites of employment, The Eau Claire Academy, Minnesota Department of Corrections and St Paul Public Schools. He is currently a High School and College Volleyball and Basketball official.
His career accomplishments have resulted in prestigious awards including a Minnesota finalist of Teacher of the Year in 2020, Concordia University Educator of the Year in 2022 and Minnesota Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year in 2024!
Mr. Combs graduated from Concordia University with a degree in Physical Education and received a Master's Degree from St. Mary’s University. He is married with 5 kids and 12 grandchildren, who are all located in the metro area.
When not working, most days are spent watching his grandchildren and their endeavors. Water skiing, snow skiing, snowmobiling, and bicycling are all things that are a part of his daily life. In the fall, Mr. Combs will retire from St. Paul Public Schools and look forward to his next chapter as a Physical Education Professor at Concordia University St. Paul.
Past Recipients:
2024 - Xavier Munoz - Minnesota Grizzlies
2023 - Damian Johnson - Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School
2022 - Mark Fischbach - St. Paul Johnson High School
2021 - Johnny Allen, Jr. - The JK Movement
2020 - No award given
2019 - James Ware - Park Center High School
2018 - John Bryant - Jerry Gambles Boys and Girls Club
2017 - Scott Howell - St. Paul Central High School
2014 to 2016 - No award given
2013 - Giovan Jenkins - Minneapolis Washburn H.S.
2012 - JoJo Verdeja - El Rio Vista Rec Center
2011 - Anthony Minus - St. Paul Humboldt H.S.
Leo E. Lewis Jr.
The elder Leo graduated from Marshall High School in St. Paul where he was an All-City student athlete in football, basketball and track. He was convinced to go to college by his mother despite the death of his father during his senior year. Leo was recruited by the legendary coach Dwight Reed to Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri where he was a three-year All-American football player (Reed was a University of Minnesota athlete who along with his teammate –legendary coach Bud Wilkinson - participated on the NCAA National Football Championship teams of 1935-36).
Lincoln was undefeated two of Leo’s four years and national black college champions in 1952. Leo was inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Lincoln University Hall of Fame in 2008 for his outstanding college career. Along with serving in the ROTC, he graduated from Lincoln University with a Bachelors of Science degree.
Named the “Lincoln Locomotive,” Leo played 11 years as a professional football player in the Canadian Football League. Although drafted in the sixth round by the National Football League’s Baltimore Colts in 1955, he decided to instead play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Leo and Hall of Fame coach Bud Grant were teammates in Winnipeg. Grant later coached the Blue Bombers before becoming the famed coach for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. According to Grant, Leo was one of the greatest players he ever coached. Leo was named CFL All-Star six times and later named to their Hall of Fame in 1973 and the All-Time All-CFL team. He helped the Blue Bombers go to the League’s championship game six times and win its Grey Cup four times. Additional accolades he received during his career in Winnipeg include being elected to the Manitoba and Blue Bombers Halls of Fame and honorary citizen of Winnipeg. In addition, he was added to the Bombers Ring of Honor in 2016.
After retiring from professional football, Leo spent over thirty-two years coaching and teaching. While earning his Masters of Science Degree from the University of Missouri, he was a football coach and instructor at Columbia Hickman High School and worked for the State of Missouri in its Department of Agriculture. He returned back to Lincoln as their Assistant Football Coach and Head Coach for football, golf and women’s basketball. He also served as a professor in the physical education department as well as Interim Athletic Director.
Leo E. Lewis Jr. the father of retired Minnesota Viking Leo Lewis III, died August 30, 2013 at his home in Columbia, MO. He was 80 years old.
Founded in 1999 by Leo Lewis, the Lewis Sports Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community service organization dedicated to providing our youth with the tools to develop lifeskills through education and physical activity.
