We received the news that Lewis Bear, Jr. passed during the night. The family shared that he went peacefully.
PERSONAL
Born: February 10, 1941 in Pensacola, Florida
Married to Belle Yates Bear -1966
Three children – Lewis III, Cindi, and David
Four grandchildren – Lauren, Chad, Julia, Max
WORK
1985 – Present President and CEO, The Lewis Bear Company, Pensacola, Florida
1968 – 1985 Vice President, The Lewis Bear Company, Pensacola, Florida
1965 – 1968 Sales, The Lewis Bear Company, Pensacola, Florida
COMMUNITY & PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
Board Chair, Pensacola Escambia Development Commission (PEDC)
FloridaWest (Community Economic Development Agency)
Executive Committee, Florida’s Great Northwest (16 county economic development organization)
Member, National Beer Wholesalers Association
Life Trustee, Pensacola Museum of Art
Trustee, University of West Florida; Chairman
Board Chair, Pensacola Escambia Development Commission (PEDC)2006-2022
Chairman, Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chairman for Economic Development (3 yrs)
Board Member, Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Board Chairman and Campaign Chairman, United Way of Escambia County
Chairman, Pensacola Museum of Art
Trustee, Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC)
Charter President, Five Flags Rotary
Founding Member, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida
Board Member, Baptist Health Care Foundation
Board Member, Past Chairman Fiesta of Five Flags
Board Member, Space Florida
Board Member, Enterprise Florida, Inc.
Board Member, Ringling Museum; Sarasota, Florida
Chairman, Florida Beer Wholesalers Association
Board Member, Beer Industry of Florida
Chairman, Anheuser-Busch Advisory Board
Board Member, North American Wholesale Grocers Association
Board Member, National Beer Wholesalers Association
Secretary of State Appointee, Florida Arts Council (3 terms)
Florida Senate Appointee, Statewide Health Planning Council
Board Member, Tourist and Convention Commission (TACC)
Vice President, Arts, Culture, and Entertainment, Inc. (ACE)
Board Member, Past President, Pensacola Country Club
Recognition and Awards
1. United Negro College Fund, Distinguished Leadership Award, 1983
2. Pensacola Chamber of Commerce
a. Pace Award, “Business Leader of the Year”, 1985
b. Distinguished Service Award, 1988
c. Pace Award, “Spirit of Pensacola”, 2001
d. Board Member of the Year, 2011
e. Pace Award, “Pioneer” 2013
3. Pensacola Museum of Art, Life Member of BOD, 1992
4. United Way of Escambia County
a. Distinguished Community Service, 1999
b. Tocqueville “Legacy”, 2004
5. American Cancer Society, Excalibur, 2003
6. African American Heritage Society, Heritage Award, 2005
7. American Heart Association, Chairman’s Award, 2007
8. Independent News Weekly a. “Power List”, 2008-20, Most Powerful, 2010 b. Best Politically Connected, 2011, 2012, 2013
c. Best Person to Have on Your Side, 2013
9. University of West Florida, Foundation Fellow, 2010
10. Florida Bar, Liberty Bell Award, 2013
11. Rotary International, Service Award, 2013
12. Boy Scouts of America, Golden Eagle Award, 2013
13. Florida Beer Wholesalers Assoc., Lifetime Service, 2021
14. National Beer wholesalers Assn., Life Service Award 2022