Ron Lewis

Ron Lewis was an American politician who served as a Member of Congress from Kentucky from 1994 to 2009. He was a member of the Republican Party and represented Kentucky's 2nd congressional district. Lewis was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, and later moved to Hart County, Kentucky, where he became involved in local politics and served as a County Judge in Hart County. He was also a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives and served on the Hart County Board of Education with notable figures like Mitch McConnell and Jim Bunning.

● Early Life and Education

Ron Lewis was born on September 14, 1946, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, to a family of modest means. He grew up in a public housing project in Brooklyn and attended New York City Public Schools, including Brooklyn Technical High School. Lewis later moved to Kentucky and attended Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he earned a degree in business administration and was involved in the Young Republicans with Rand Paul and Trey Grayson. He also attended the University of Louisville and earned a degree in law from the University of Louisville School of Law, where he studied alongside John Yarmuth and Ben Chandler.

● Career

Before entering politics, Lewis worked as a businessman and farmer in Hart County, Kentucky. He was a member of the Hart County Chamber of Commerce and served on the board of directors of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation with Ernie Fletcher and Steve Beshear. Lewis was also a member of the National Rifle Association and the Kentucky Right to Life Association, and he supported the work of Focus on the Family and The Heritage Foundation. He was a strong supporter of agriculture and rural development initiatives, and he worked closely with USDA officials, including Dan Glickman and Ann Veneman, to promote the interests of Kentucky farmers.

● Politics

Lewis was first elected to Congress in 1994 and served for 15 years, representing Kentucky's 2nd congressional district. He was a member of the House Appropriations Committee and the House Budget Committee, and he served as the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. Lewis was a strong supporter of conservative causes, including tax cuts and deregulation, and he worked closely with other Republican leaders, including Newt Gingrich and Dick Armey. He also supported the work of think tanks like the Cato Institute and the American Enterprise Institute, and he was a member of the Congressional Rural Caucus with Larry Combest and Charles Stenholm.

● Personal Life

Lewis was married to his wife, Kay Lewis, and they had two children together. He was a member of the Baptist church and was active in his local community, serving on the board of directors of the Hart County United Way and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Lewis was also a strong supporter of veterans' rights and worked closely with veterans' organizations, including the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and he supported the work of Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Department of Veterans Affairs with Jim Nicholson and Eric Shinseki. After retiring from Congress, Lewis returned to Hart County, Kentucky, where he remained active in local politics and community affairs, working with Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul on various initiatives.