Dennis Blair Lewis

West Point, 1965

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Bob Bradley on October 15, 2009:

Marie, I am very lucky. Unlike most of our 596 West Point Classmates, I was fortunate to know Dennis for 5 years after I moved to San Diego in 2004 and he contacted me on one of his trips to East Lake. I didn't know Dennis while we were at West Point. What a man! The 1965 West Point "Howitzer" mentioned his "indomitable spirit, willingness to lend a helping hand and ability to win friends." He immediately won me as a friend and admirer. Our Class motto is "Strength and Drive." Dennis lived that motto throughout his life. Forty eight years ago on the Plain at West Point as 18 and 19 year olds we took an oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic." While most of us didn't go to war for 5 or 6 years, Dennis started immediately.......on the West Point football field. We have been a Band of Brothers since 1961. I know Dennis and Merritt Bumpass have been like brothers for many years. Bump and I have been close friends since Plebe year. I learned that Dennis loved my "beating up" on Bump for having gone into Air Force Purchasing later becoming a JAG lawyer. I often tell Merritt that it would have been more honorable for him to have gone to Canada [to escape the draft] than becoming a Air Force JAG officer. Dennis gave me "ammunition" so I could "bust Merritt's chops" about the USAF JAG "shame." Two of my favorites: During a casual phone conversation Dennis asked Merritt for his legal opinion regarding a construction project Denny was involved with. To Dennis' surprise, Merritt sent Dennis an invoice for $375. Instead of paying the invoice, Denny sent Bump a $50 gift certificate to a new restaurant Denny had just opened [back with the invoice]. After a year and a half, Bumpass came across the gift certificate and decided finally to get reimbursed for his legal expertise. Merritt and Nancy drove 45 minutes to the restaurant only to find out it had closed! I told Merritt he received just compensation for his legal advice. Years ago the '65 West Point football group decided to take a $5,000 golf trip to England and Scotland. Since Dennis and Merritt had become good friends, Dennis invited Merritt even thought Merritt technically was not a member of the football group. Several days before departure, Merritt had to cancel due to another Meredith "emergency." Since he had not canceled prior to two-weeks before the trip and could not find a replacement to pay $5,000, Merritt offered his spot to one of the sons of a football player...who was able to go on the $5,000 trip for FREE. To show his appreciation, the son bought Merritt a golf shirt from the Saint Andrews pro shop. Of course, it quickly became Merritt's $5,000 golf shirt! I know Dennis was waiting for a heart transplant. It wouldn't have worked. There's no way they could have matched the spirit and determination in Dennis' heart. The mark of man is not wealth or accumulated possessions, rather it is how he is viewed by his peers. The fact that the football "stars" of our class held Dennis in such high esteem is a tribute to his true character. Dennis was not blessed with the God-given athletic gifts of Rollie or John Seymour, but no one had more Strength and Drive than Denny. He just wouldn't quit or fail to give his all. What a man! He should be the bench mark for all of us. A year or ago we had dinner with wives. The next morning I said to Dennis, "You got the pick of the litter of wives." Dennis replied, "I think so." Dennis loved you very much. With great appreciation for having known Dennis 5 years, Bob

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