Richard Lewis

The Story

Richard Lewis was a Bartow golfer who competed during the era of segregated professional golf and traveled extensively with fellow golfer Herbert Dixon on the United Golfers Association circuit. Local accounts describe Lewis as one of Dixon's closest golfing companions and an accomplished player in his own right. Dixon credited Lewis with helping him learn aspects of tournament golf while the two traveled together throughout the South and beyond. Although Lewis did not receive the same national recognition as Dixon, he remains an important figure in the history of Black golf in Polk County and Central Florida.