This morning, state and local officials joined the Bear family and community members to dedicate a portion of North 9th Avenue—from Bayfront Parkway to Cervantes Street—as Lewis Bear Jr. Way, honoring the late businessman and philanthropist who shaped Pensacola for decades.
State Sen Don Gaetz opened the ceremony with characteristic humor, recalling his time serving on boards with Bear. “On one board I was elected chairman, and he was elected vice chairman, which of course meant that Lewis was the chairman,” Gaetz said, drawing laughter from attendees.
Community Spirit
The roadway designation became law through the efforts of former Sen. Doug Broxson, who worked closely with Bear for 16 years. Broxson shared their first meeting in 2009. “He didn’t give you a list of things that he wanted for his company. He said, ‘What can you do for our region, and can you get in the position to make a difference?’”
- Broxson also addressed critics of the Bear family’s political involvement, clarifying their motivations: “They didn’t know the spirit in which they made those contributions. It was all about promoting this region.”
Echoing Broxson’s sentiments about his father, David Bear said, “He didn’t do anything for the recognition. He loved this community. He loved the people in it, and he loved to see it grow.”
He thanked the Panhandle legislative delegation, Rep. Michelle Salzman, who co-sponsored the bill, and Sen. Broxson for their support in making the designation a reality.
Belle Bear, Lewis’s widow, offered brief but heartfelt remarks. “In the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep, I told Lewis about this, and he said, ‘That’s embarrassing.’ You deserved it. And he smiled.”
Sen. Gaetz gave Belle a smaller version of the commemorative sign, joking the official sign was too large for her living room. She responded, “Every way in my house was Lewis. We have been in that house 30 years, and we did everything together. So every room, every object, everything is Lewis.”
- The road name itself carries special significance. “We could have called this Lewis Bear Boulevard or Lewis Bear Road,” Senator Gaetz explained, “but the Bear Family said it’s got to be Lewis’s Way.”
Lewis Bear Jr., who led The Lewis Bear Company from 1990 until his death in March 2023 at age 82, left an indelible mark on Northwest Florida through his business acumen, charitable contributions, and unwavering commitment to regional development—a legacy now permanently marked on Pensacola’s streets.