Siuslaw Hall of Fame books Forrest Lewis
Noted Nevada librarian was standout on Vikings football and wrestling teams
HOF Class of 2024:
Eric Daniel - Forrest Lewis - Alaura Little - Guy Mamac -
Max Perry - Katy Potter - Trevor May - Tyler May
The induction-dinner is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, at the Florence Events Center.
By Don Hunt
Siuslaw graduate and member of the Siuslaw Athletic Hall of Fame
The bad news for the Siuslaw High football team heading into the 1987 season was that the Vikings were returning just one of 22 starting positions.
The good news was that the one returning regular was Forrest Lewis, a first-team, all-state offensive guard and second-team, all-state linebacker on defense.
The Far West League coaches weren’t amused, however. They penciled the Vikings in for a last-place finish in 1987.
But with Lewis serving as the catalyst, Siuslaw catapulted to a 9-2 overall record, won the league title with a 7-0 mark and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs. The Vikings lost their opening game to Pleasant Hill and their final game to Dallas, but in between they reeled off nine straight victories — the third-longest win streak in school history.
The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Lewis was small by offensive lineman and linebacker standards, but he was scrappy and tough. The FWL’s defensive player-of-the-year was praised in the Siuslaw News for his “defensive play-making ability and crushing tackles.”
“It’s almost unbelievable what this group accomplished,” head coach Len Lutero said after the season. “It goes to show what a bunch of kids can do if they’re willing to work and put their hearts into getting better every single day. I couldn’t have asked for a better group in terms of attitude and desire. No one gave them anything. They earned everything they got.”
Lewis, who also was a four-year varsity performer and state tournament participant in wrestling, earned plenty after he left Siuslaw. He claimed a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature degree at Southern Oregon University and a Master of Library and Information Science degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He then parlayed those degrees into a distinguished career as a library director in Las Vegas, Nev.
Lewis’ accolades include being appointed director of the North Las Vegas Library District in 2013; being named Librarian of the Year by the Nevada Library Association in 2015; being voted president of the Nevada Library Association in 2020; and being named vice-chair of the Nevada Governor’s Council on Libraries and Literacy in 2023.
Great Story, congratulations to Forrest who was a year behind me in high school.
Very nice to see a quote from “ The Legend” Coach Len Lutero. Should be a bronze statue of him at the entrance of Hans Peterson Memorial Stadium.
Jason Free
Siuslaw High Class of ‘86