Jesse Lewis

Jesse J. Lewis, Sr (born c. 1926 in Tuscaloosa) is the publisher of the Birmingham Times and a political and public relations consultant.

Lewis dropped out of high school to enlist in the U. S. Army during World War II. After his discharge he completed high school and enrolled at Miles College. He founded the Jesse J. Lewis and Associates marketing firm in 1954. After selling the successful business to his son Jesse, Jr, he planned the launch of a national entertainment magazine called Showtime, which he sold before getting it off the ground.

In 1965 Lewis founded the weekly Birmingham Times with a long-term advertising commitment from Bruno's supermarkets. Despite criticism for the paper's right-leaning editorials (Lewis endorsed George Wallace for Governor and both Presidents Bush), it was successful. Lewis sold it to his son James in 1995.

Immediately Lewis founded a new consulting firm, the Lewis Group.

References

• Stewart, Virginia (February 9, 2001) "Jesse J. Lewis still an entrepreneur." Birmingham Business Journal