| Richard F. Lewis Jr. | |
| Birth Name: | Richard Field Lewis Jr. |
| Birth Date: | 18 October 1907 |
| Birth Place: | Winchester, Virginia |
| Death Place: | Washington, DC |
| Nationality: | American |
| Occupation: | Radio network owner |
| Years Active: | 1941-1957 |
| Organization: | Richard Field Lewis Jr. Stations |
| Known For: | Mid-Atlantic radio network (mid-20th century) |
| Notable Works: | Established WINC AM radio |
| Spouse: | Marion Park Lewis |
| Children: | John, David, Howard |
Richard Field Lewis Jr. (May 18, 1907 – October 18, 1957) was an American radio network owner of Richard Field Lewis Jr. Stations (later Mid Atlantic Network Inc.) in the mid-20th Century.[1] [2] [3]
Richard Field Lewis Jr. was born on May 18, 1907, in Winchester, Virginia. He had a sister, later known as Mrs. E.L. Anderson.[1]
In 1941, Lewis built the station for and licensed WINC, an ABC affiliate, in Winchester, Virginia.[4]
In 1946, he licensed WRFL (FM), also in Winchester.[5]
In the early 1950s, Richard F. Lewis, Jr., hired Whittaker Chambers briefly at WINC—the first work Chambers got after he had left TIME magazine in December 1948 (as the Hiss Case turned from HUAC hearings in Washington, a slander suit in Baltimore, and a grand jury investigation in New York into a federal case against Alger Hiss).[6]
In September 1952, Lewis licensed WLXW (AM) in Carlisle, Pennsylvania for $70,000.[5]
By 1956-7, according to Telecasting Yearbook,[7] Lewis owned a Mid-Atlantic network that comprised:
At his death in 1957, his network had added WAGE (AM) (now WTSD) in Leesburg, VA.[1] [2]
Upon his death, his wife Marion Park Lewis took over the business, renamed it "Mid Atlantic Network Inc.," and ran it from 1957 to 1971.[3]
Lewis married Marion Park Lewis; they had three sons—John, David, and Howard.[1] [2] [3]
Lewis died age 50 on October 18, 1957, in Washington, DC, of natural causes while on a visit there from Winchester.[1] [2]
In addition to surviving radio stations, in 1992 his wife founded the Marion Park Lewis Foundation for the Arts, which offers scholarships for Northern Shenandoah Valley students.[2]
. Whittaker Chambers . Witness . Random House . registration . 760 (footnote) . May 1952 . 18 December 2018.