Town Marshal Charles Lewis
March 25th 1895 - March 16th 1939
Charles Edward Leroy Lewis was born on March 25th, 1895 in Big Horn, WY. He was one of seven children, five brothers and two sisters. The family eventually moved to Basin, WY where he spent his early childhood. The family then moved to Powell in 1911 where his father, Frank Lewis, ran the local blacksmith and veterinary business. Lewis got a job as the stable boss for government owned horses used by the Shoshone reclamation project. Lewis attended the Powell High School and was a member of the 1914-1915 basketball team. He was ambitious and had aspirations of being a pharmacist and was interested in mechanics.
Lewis joined the Wyoming National Guard on March 13th, 1915 and was assigned to Company C. Lewis was stationed at Ft. Deming, New Mexico and saw combat at the Mexican border against Pancho Villa. He later moved to Camp D.A. Russell near Cheyenne, WY. Lewis was then promoted to Sergeant on August 1st, 1916. His unit was mobilized as a part of Battery F, 148th Field Artillery Brigade in March 1917. Eventually he was sent to France in 1918 during World War I. In France Lewis’ unit saw action in the Chateau-Therry, Champagne and other battles. During the war he was offered a battlefield commission which he turned down saying he wanted to stay with Wyoming soldiers. During combat Lewis had been continuously exposed to deadly gas and suffered a minor wound to his cheek from shrapnel. This wound did affect the vision in one of his eyes. Lewis was discharged from the U.S. Army on July 5th, 1919.
After his discharge Lewis took a job with the Wiggenhorn Drug Company in Billings, MT. Lewis returned to Powell in 1920 where he worked for the Tarvin Hoops drug store. In 1921 Lewis worked on a crew that laid gas mains from Byron to Powell. On December 10th, 1921 Lewis married Sara Elizabeth “Bess” Philips. Shortly after his marriage Lewis was appointed as the Water Commissioner, Street Commissioner and Town Marshal. Lewis had involvement in the cities waterworks development, extension work, sewers, streets development and other federal programs. Lewis did all this while staying busy as Powell’s Town Marshall.
On March 16th, 1939 Lewis and Park County Sheriff Deputy D.M. Baker went to the residence of an escaped felon. Upon arrival at the residence Lewis and Baker were met with rifle fire which killed Baker and injured Lewis who later died from his injuries. Lewis’ funeral was attended by an estimated 3,000 people.
From the Powell Police Department