Where Is Hugh Lewis?

On Line, Of Course!

Where is Hugh Lewis? The Horns lost their #1 NCAA basketball ranking while the whole world was watching. Where is Hugh Lewis? The Dallas Cowboys were dismissed from the NFC playoff by a 40-year-old, future Hall of Famer? Where is Hugh Lewis? Baseball season is just around the corner, and the Horns are already ranked #1. Where is Hugh Lewis?

For decades Hugh Lewis spoke sports in Austin Media. I worked with him in what I call the “Halcyon Days”, the 1980s, at KVUE TV (ABC). We were #1, and Hugh Lewis was the sports director. Hugh’s winning smile was a Hallmark of KVUE sports, and his sports acumen was matched by few.
Everyone knows that broadcasting jobs are seldom forever, so Lewis moved on in 1992.

Like most of us, he tried other things away from the cameras and microphones for a few years. The love of the game—all of the games—brought Hugh back, this time in radio. “I worked for KVET-AM, 1300-The Zone, and ESPN radio from 2002-2006,” Lewis says. Radio sports kept him quite busy. “Duties included talk show host, color commentator for U.T. women's basketball, Austin Terminators Indoor football, U.T. pregame and postgame football shows, U.T. baseball commentator, Westlake and other Austin area high school football broadcasts.”

If Lewis wasn’t busy enough, he had other interests on the side. In 2003 and 2004, Lewis was general manager and part owner of the Austin Rockers Indoor Professional Football Team.

Where is Hugh Lewis? In 2006 he moved to New York. (New York?!!) “Moved to New York in 2006 to work as Sports Director for HDNews TV. It was an HD version of CNN...but was shut down last year,” Lewis says.

So, where is Hugh Lewis now? Online, of course. Lewis and his son created an aggregate sports web site,

www.bonafidesports.com. Not all of the links were working (Hugh says his tech guy has been out of pocket), but the content is quite good, with the possible exception of the “Bonafide Hottie”. “The website idea evolved from watching games with my son and son-in-law, and our arguments over how sports used to be...and how sports are today,” Lewis says. Bonafidesports.com utilizes my sports background, and my son's internet and computer background. It's a great way for us to bond together and have fun doing it!”

Where in the world is Hugh Lewis? He’s still in New Jersey probably playing with his grandchildren. (Grandchildren?!!!).

Time flies.

© Jim McNabb, 2010