Lewis Rowland

Lewis Rowland was born February 5, 1939 to Gladys (Fant) Rowland and Sam Rowland. He leaves to celebrate his memory, his last surviving sister, Gloria Elliott of Louisville, Kentucky that he loved dearly. Lewis never had children of his own but loved his many nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends.

Lewis graduated from Withrow High School in 1953. While in school he worked at Bernes Drug Store, Jewish Hospital and the Veterans Memorial Public Library to pay his way through college. He applied and was accepted to the Cincinnati Art Academy in 1957 where he graduated in 1962 and received his four year degree in Art & Design. While he was there he also received 3 Artist Awards: the Nanny B. Wise Purchase Prize, the Morris White Design Award and the Martin Dumler Award.

In 1964, after college Lewis enlisted into the Ohio Army National Guard where he was honorably discharged in 1965 after injuring his knee during basic training. He then pursued careers with Gibson Greeting Cards and Hallmark Cards Inc. where he drew card covers before moving to Kansas City, Missouri. There he worked at the Kansas Public Library and Black Light Inc., a company that authenticated oil paintings.

Lewis was an avid member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Lewis was a very gifted artist. As a result of his gift he was offered and accepted an Art Professorship at Howard University in Washington D.C., where he remained until his untimely illness. Lewis was unknowingly given a drug that unexpectedly changed his life. You may have caught him sitting quietly on Fountain Square drawing a picture of something or someone or maybe dancing and enjoying life. Or you could have seen him at the Cincinnati Public Library making copies of his interests at the moment.

Lewis expressed himself totally through his love for and collection of art. He was a “Renaissance Man” he lived in color. He loved all textures, shapes and forms of artistic expression. Throughout his 80 years on this earth, ART was his life and that love kept him alive and busy. Now he rests.

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