Raymond Lewis

ANNA, Ill. -- Raymond "Jack" Lewis, 91, of Anna died at 7:20 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2001, at his home.

He was born Dec. 11, 1909, at Carrier Mills, Ill., son of Charles and Della Turner Lewis. He and Josephine L. Woods were married April 10, 1937, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Cairo, Ill.

Mr. Lewis is survived by his wife, Jo of Anna; a daughter, Mary Della Lewis of Cape Girardeau; two sons and daughters-in-law, R. Jack Lewis Jr. and wife Peggy of Evansville, Ind., William A. Lewis and wife Pat of Anna; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Amos and Armold "Cotton"; and two sisters, Blanche Whitney and Reva Corzine.

In 1925 Mr. Lewis and his two brothers, A.C. and Armold, launched Lewis Bakeries in Anna with $300 they borrowed from their mother. Mr. Lewis took over the bakery in 1944 and grew the company into a major regional bakery.

In 1950 he originated and copyrighted the name "Bunny" and in 1951 he built a new bakery in Anna. Soon "That's What I Said, Bunny Bread" and "Get the Rabbit Habit" were heard all over the Heartland.

The company is now comprised of seven bakeries selling fresh bread products in 14 states from Michigan to Alabama and from Ohio to Arkansas, and frozen products nationwide. It is a leading baker in many cities such as Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, Evansville, and Milwaukee.

In 1968, Mr. Lewis was selected the Outstanding Small Businessman in the United States by the National Council for Development of Small Business Management. He traveled the country making motivational speeches to various business groups.

He became known for many original aphorisms including "Grow or go," "You don't have to be big to be good," "When you get through changing you are through," "Keep your business as modern as your car," "Just look in the mirror if you want to see your bad competitor," and "The right time is when you make it."

Mr. Lewis helped found the American Bakers Cooperative, Teaneck, N.J., and the Independent Bakers Association, Washington, D.C. In 1957 Mr. Lewis broke ground on the Orchard Drive Subdivision in which more than 80 houses were built.

In 1952 Mr. Lewis was elected to the Anna City Council and served until 1980. Some of the notable achievements during his tenure in addition to placing the city on a sound financial footing were the Anna swimming pool, the municipal gas system, the AJ Water Commission, and the saving of the Anna City Hospital by converting it into a countywide hospital.

Mr. Lewis served on the Anna National Bank Board of Directors and as chairman of the board for many years. When the International Shoe Co. closed, Mr. Lewis persistently lobbied International Shoe to keep the plant open. As a result, International directed its subsidiary, Florsheim Shoe, to build a new plant in Anna. Mr. Lewis and five other businessmen planned and started the Union County Country Club.

In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Lewis was very active in the local chamber. In 1968, the Anna Chamber of Commerce honored him with a special day and dinner for his services to the city. He served many years as a very active member of the Board of Directors of Southern Illinois Incorporated, a regional organization that worked to attract industry and jobs to Southern Illinois. In 1977 he was selected Southern Illinois Incorporated Citizen of the Year.

He was a Rotarian and an Elk.

Funeral service for Mr. Raymond "Jack" Lewis will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, 2001, at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Anna. The Rev. Roy Hill and the Rev. Doug Bridgeman will officiate. Interment will be in Anna Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-9 p.m. today.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church in Anna, or to the donor's favorite charity or organization.