Tracy P. Lewis, Class of 1983

Imagine our delight that the first black president of a professional baseball team since the demise of the Negro League turned out to be a 24-year-old English major from Williams who had previously seen three baseball games in her life. When you became president of the Cardinals of Savannah, Georgia, many of the team’s older black fans still gravitated to the left field stands of Grayson Stadium—a habit from when that was the only section they were allowed to sit in. Not that the ailing franchise had many fans. With vigorous and creative marketing, however, you quickly tripled average attendance and drew the team into the life of the community. The example you gave as a successful black baseball president ballooned in stature when it was suggested openly that African-Americans might lack what it takes to run a team. You whacked that hanging curveball a country mile in an almost endless series of major media interviews in which you personified to the world the effective black woman executive. Just as remarkable, while running the team you commuted to your other positon as vice president of the WYLD radio stations in New Orleans. You later moved full time to St. Louis to serve concurrently as vice president/general manager of the KATZ radio stations, vice president of administrative services and employee relations of Inter-Urban Broadcasting, and secretary/treasurer of Inter-Urban Rental Systems. While wearing all these hats, you managed to undertake award­ winning community service projects in the St. Louis area. Having marveled at your early accomplishments, we now anticipate eagerly the next few innings of your career, to follow your current studies at Columbia University’s School of Social Work. In recognition of your distinguished achievement in business and community service, Williams College is proud to present you with its Bicentennial Medal.