People Australia

Johnny Lewis, n.d.

John Francis (Johnny) Lewis (1901-1973) labourer, trade union official and footballer 

Birth: 13 September 1901 at Hotham West (West Melbourne), Victoria, son of native-born parents Henry (Harry) Lewis (1868-1953), wool store employee, and Josephine, née Danaher (1868-1935). Marriages (1) 6 January 1929 at Melbourne to Frances May Williams. They had one son. The marriage ended in divorce in 1946. (2) 1947 at Melbourne to Catherine Mary O’Connor (1905-1998). They had one daughter. Death: 3 July 1973 at Kew; usual address Grattan Street, Carlton. 

• From 1921 was a champion footballer with North Melbourne and Melbourne. Also an interstate player. Standing 6 ft 4 inches (193.cm) and weighing 14 stone 8 lbs (92.5 kgs), he was described as a “giant ruckman”. Retired in 1938 after breaking his arm. Briefly coached Murtoa.
• Organiser Storemen and Packers’ Union 1943. Assistant secretary 1951. Member of the union’s disputes committee about 1957.
• Executive member of the Trades Hall Council. State secretary of the Storemen and Packers’ Union 1962.
• Later worked as a security officer.
• Cause of death: terminal hypostatic pneumonia (3 days) and carcinoma of lung (1 year).
• In 1996 inducted in the AFL Hall of Fame.

Sources
Fact, 2 August 1962 p 7.