Changes

{{Infobox officeholder

{{Infobox officeholder

|name=Tryon Dexter Lewis​​

|name=Tryon Dexter Lewis​​

|nationality=[[United States|American]]​

|nationality=[[United States|American]]​

|office=[[Texas]] State Representative<br>for District 81 (Andrews, Ector, and Winkler counties)​

|office=[[Texas]] State Representative<br>for District 81 (Andrews, Ector,<br> and Winkler counties)​

|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]  ​

|party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]  ​

|term_start=2009​

|term_start=2009​

|term_end=January 13, 2015 ​

|term_end=January 13, 2015 ​

|preceded=George E. "Buddy" West ​

|preceded=[[George E. "Buddy" West]] ​

|succeeded=Brooks Landgraf  ​

|succeeded=[[Brooks Landgraf]] ​

|office2=[[Judge]] of the Texas State 161st District Court ​

|office2=[[Judge]] of the Texas<br> 161st Judicial District Court ​

|term_start2=1985​

|term_start2=1985​

|term_end2=2006​

|term_end2=2006​

==Background==

==Background==

Lewis was born to Tryon Eugene "Bud" Lewis (1911–2003)<ref name=tebl>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77494593/tryon-eugene-lewis|title=Tryon Eugene "Bud" Lewis|publisher=Findagrave|accessdate=April 7, 2020}}</ref>  and the former Erma Lea Beauchamp in Kermit in Winkler County. The senior Lewis was descended from a pioneer ranching family from Fort Stockton in Pecos County. His work in the [[petroleum]] exploration industry required several early moves for the Lewis family, who relocated in 1952 to Odessa in the oil-rich Permian Basin of West Texas. Lewis has two sisters, Barbara Southern and Ann Elizabeth Smith. Bud and Erma Lewis retired in 1980 to Fort Stockton.<ref>Obituary of Tryon E. "Bud" Lewis, ''The Odessa American,'' June 5, 2003.</ref>​

Lewis was born to Tryon Eugene "Bud" Lewis (1911–2003)<ref name=tebl>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77494593/tryon-eugene-lewis|title=Tryon Eugene "Bud" Lewis|publisher=Findagrave|accessdate=April 7, 2020}}</ref>  and the former Erma Lea Beauchamp in Kermit in Winkler County. The senior Lewis was descended from a pioneer ranching family from Fort Stockton in Pecos County. His work in the [[petroleum]] exploration industry required several early moves for the Lewis family, who relocated in 1952 to Odessa in the oil-rich Permian Basin of West Texas. Lewis has two sisters, Barbara Southern and Ann Elizabeth Smith. Bud and Erma Lewis retired in 1980 to Fort Stockton, where he is interred at East Hill Cemeter.<ref>Obituary of Tryon E. "Bud" Lewis, ''The Odessa American,'' June 5, 2003.</ref><ref name=tebl/>​

Lewis attended Odessa College, a community college, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the [[University of Texas]] at [[Austin]]. He obtained the [[Juris Doctor]]ate from [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated [[Baylor University]] Law School in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], Texas. Since 1973, he has been a partner in the law firm Atkins, Hollman, Jones, Peacock, Lewis, and Lyon. From 1985 to 2006, he was judge of the Texas 161st District Court.<ref name=votesmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=102049|title=Tryon Lewis' Biography|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=April 7, 2020}}</ref>

Lewis attended Odessa College, a community college, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the [[University of Texas]] at [[Austin]]. He obtained the [[Juris Doctor]]ate from [[Southern Baptist]]-affiliated [[Baylor University]] Law School in [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], Texas. Since 1973, he has been a partner in the law firm Atkins, Hollman, Jones, Peacock, Lewis, and Lyon. From 1985 to 2006, he was judge of the Texas 161st District Court.<ref name=votesmart>{{cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=102049|title=Tryon Lewis' Biography|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=April 7, 2020}}</ref>

Lewis and his wife, Trudy Lynn Lewis (born 1949), an educator who graduated from [[Rice University]] in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], have two daughters, Eleanor R. Lewis and Annie Lewis. He previously served as chairman of the Ector County Republican Party and as president of the Republican Men's Club. He has been a board member of the Permian Playhouse, the Odessa Cultural Council, and the popular Meals on Wheels program.<ref name=votesmart/>The Lewises are promoters of the western art of Thomas C. Lea, III (1907-2001), of [[El Paso]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tomlea.net/Month2012/Presenters.html|title=Tom Lea Institute|publisher=tomlea.net|accessdate=March 28, 2014}}</ref>​

Lewis and his wife, Trudy Lynn Lewis (born 1949), an educator who graduated from [[Rice University]] in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], have two daughters, Eleanor R. Lewis and Annie Lewis. He previously served as chairman of the Ector County Republican Party and as president of the Republican Men's Club. He has been a board member of the Permian Playhouse, the Odessa Cultural Council, and the popular Meals on Wheels program.<ref name=votesmart/>The Lewises are promoters of the western art of Thomas C. Lea, III (1907-2001), of [[El Paso]].

==Judicial views==​

==Judicial views==

As the 161st district judge, Lewis wrote a letter in 1989 to ''Texas Monthly'' challenging the accuracy of an article in the [[magazine]] that claims prison overcrowding in Texas stems from judges and juries sending convicted persons to the penitentiary for trivial reasons. Lewis wrote:​

As the 161st district judge, Lewis wrote a letter in 1989 to ''Texas Monthly'' challenging the accuracy of an article in the [[magazine]] that claims prison overcrowding in Texas stems from judges and juries sending convicted persons to the penitentiary for trivial reasons. Lewis wrote:​

​

​

<blockquote>

<blockquote>

No state is more lenient toward criminals than Texas. Every criminal with no prior [[felony]] conviction is eligible for [[probation]]. There are eight different kinds of probation. ... Forty-five percent of all prisoners are repeat offenders. Thus there are very few nonviolent first offenders in prison, and nearly all of those have already failed the court's attempt at alternative punishment. The convicts in prison are there because they deserve to be. [While prison cells are expensive], not providing those cells is far more expensive. . . . A typical multi-offender inmate will commit 187 crimes per year, for a total crime cost to society of $430,000. With this comparison, the $25,800 cost of imprisoning criminals seems reasonable."<ref>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/?id=TC4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14&lpg=PA14&dq=Judge+Tryon+D.+Lewis#v=onepage&q=Judge%20Tryon%20D.%20Lewis&f=false|title=Judge Tryon D. Lewis, 161st State District Court, Letter to the Editor|publisher=Google Books: ''Texas Monthly'' [[magazine]]|date=April 1989)|page=14|accessdate=July 15, 2010}}</ref>​</blockquote>

No state is more lenient toward criminals than Texas. Every criminal with no prior [[felony]] conviction is eligible for [[probation]]. There are eight different kinds of probation. ... Forty-five percent of all prisoners are repeat offenders. Thus there are very few nonviolent first offenders in prison, and nearly all of those have already failed the court's attempt at alternative punishment. The convicts in prison are there because they deserve to be. [While prison cells are expensive], not providing those cells is far more expensive. . . . A typical multi-offender inmate will commit 187 crimes per year, for a total crime cost to society of $430,000. With this comparison, the $25,800 cost of imprisoning criminals seems reasonable."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/?id=TC4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA14&lpg=PA14&dq=Judge+Tryon+D.+Lewis#v=onepage&q=Judge%20Tryon%20D.%20Lewis&f=false|title=Letter to the Editor|author=Tryon D. Lewis, Judge of the 161st State District Court|publisher=Google Books: ''Texas Monthly'' [[magazine]]|date=April 1989|page=14|accessdate=April 7, 2020}}</ref>​</blockquote>

==Legislative service==

==Legislative service==

One of three candidates who challenged the ailing incumbent George E. "Buddy" West (1936-2008) of Odessa in the 2008 Republican [[primary]], Lewis led the field with 5,273 votes (44 percent) to West's 4,602 (38.4) percent.<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, March 4, 2008.</ref> In the lower-turnout runoff election, Lewis prevailed by a large margin, 5,181 (76 percent) to West's 1,637 (24 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, April 8, 2008.</ref>  

One of three candidates who challenged the ailing incumbent [[George E. "Buddy" West]] of Odessa in the 2008 Republican [[primary]], Lewis led the field with 5,273 votes (44 percent) to West's 4,602 (38.4) percent.<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, March 4, 2008.</ref> In the lower-turnout runoff election, Lewis prevailed by a large margin, 5,181 (76 percent) to West's 1,637 (24 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, April 8, 2008.</ref>  

Lewis was supported by then [[Speaker]] [[Tom Craddick]] of nearby [[Midland]], who at the time was at odds with West, his Republican colleague for the past fifteen years. Four anti-Craddick Republican legislators came to Odessa to campaign in the runoff for West.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasweekly.com/node/2758|title=Very Busy Signals|publisher=''Texas Weekly''|accessdate=July 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5862150.html#Intro​|title=About 200 attend state funeral of Rep. Buddy West|publisher=''Houston Chronicle''|date=June 28, 2008|accessdate=June 26, 2010}}</ref> West died some two months after the runoff election. In 2009, as Lewis succeeded West, Craddick himself was deposed as Speaker by [[Moderate Republican]] [[Joe Straus]] of [[San Antonio]].<ref>Lisa Sandberg, "The Most Popular Guy at the Capito," ''San Antonio Magazine,'' June 2009, p. 54.</ref> For a time, Lewis and Craddick remain neighboring House colleagues for Districts 81 and 82, respectively; neither had an opponent in the 2010 or 2012 general elections.

Lewis was supported by then [[Speaker]] [[Tom Craddick]] of nearby [[Midland]], who at the time was at odds with West, his Republican colleague for the past fifteen years. Four anti-Craddick Republican legislators came to Odessa to campaign in the runoff for West.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasweekly.com/node/2758|title=Very Busy Signals|publisher=''Texas Weekly''|accessdate=July 13, 2010; material no longer on-line}}</ref><ref>"About 200 attend state funeral of Rep. Buddy West," ''Houston Chronicle,'' June 28, 2008.</ref> West died some two months after the runoff election. In 2009, as Lewis succeeded West, Craddick himself was deposed as Speaker by [[Moderate Republican]] [[Joe Straus]] of [[San Antonio]].<ref>Lisa Sandberg, "The Most Popular Guy at the Capitol," ''San Antonio Magazine,'' June 2009, p. 54.</ref> For a time, Lewis and Craddick remain neighboring House colleagues for Districts 81 and 82, respectively; neither had an opponent in the 2010 or 2012 general elections.

With his judicial background, Lewis served on the House (1) Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence and (2) Public Safety committees.<ref name=votesmart/> In the 2009 legislative session, Lewis supported the positions of [[Phyllis Schlafly]]'s [[Eagle Forum]] 71 percent of the time. He supported the positions of [[interest group]]s Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and the Texas Association of Business 85 percent and 90 percent of the time, respectively.<ref name=votesmart/>​

With his judicial background, Lewis served on the House (1) Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence and (2) Public Safety committees.<ref name=votesmart/> In the 2009 legislative session, Lewis supported the positions of [[Phyllis Schlafly]]'s [[Eagle Forum]] 71 percent of the time. He supported the positions of [[interest group]]s Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and the Texas Association of Business 85 percent and 90 percent of the time, respectively.<ref name=votesmart/>​

​

​

Lewis did not seek a fourth House term in 2014. He was succeeded by Brooks Landgraf, an Odessa attorney.​

Lewis did not seek a fourth House term in 2014. He was succeeded by [[Brooks Landgraf]], a conservative Odessa attorney.​

Lewis' religious affiliation is unknown, but his father was a [[Presbyterian]].<ref name=tebl>

Lewis' religious affiliation is unknown, but his father was a [[Presbyterian]].<ref name=tebl/>

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Attorneys]]

[[Category:Attorneys]]

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Politicians]]

[[Category:Judges]]​

[[Category:Judges]]​

[[Category:Republicans]]​

[[Category:Republicans]]​