Arthur Lewis

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Arthur Lewis will celebrate his 100th birthday on Oct. 13. Lewis attended UCLA on the GI Bill after serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, where he worked in radar operations in the Pacific theater. He often described UCLA as a place of transformation — he was among the early postwar student veterans. To support himself, he worked in the chemistry lab in one of the first four buildings on campus (now Haines Hall), cleaning equipment. Those years were formative, both intellectually and personally, and he remained deeply proud to have been part of UCLA's postwar academic community.

After his time at UCLA, Lewis went on to a long and distinguished career as a California criminal defense attorney. He argued before the United States Supreme Court, defended the rights of the accused for decades, and became known for his deep ethical commitment to justice.

"To him," said his granddaughter Courtney Lewis, "UCLA was where it all began — where he transitioned from wartime service to civilian life, and where he first imagined the full arc of what he could achieve."

Happy centennial birthday from your UCLA Alumni Association, Mr. Lewis!