The News Group Net Will Miss Founding Partner Springfield Lewis
Bourbon Street in The French Quarter
Springfield Lewis on Bourbon Street
New Orleans changes people, sometime for the better, sometime for the worse.
Springfield Lewis, his real name is Robert, had hired me a couple of times to photograph stories for his IBM publications before we met in the Mississippi River city almost 25 years ago. Over the three weeks we worked in New Oleans on a project for IBM, the city brought us together as life long friends.
A few months after New Orleans, Springfield was responsible for introducing me to my wife Adrienne, with whom he was a co-worker. I am not sure whether I should thank him for that or not, 24 years later we are still seeing if we are right for each other. It might take another 24 to be sure.
Girls at Night in the French Quarter
During the time I lived in Atlanta, Springfield was a close part of Adrienne and my circle of friends. After we all left Altanta and moved on to other jobs, Springfield dropped off the radar. Years later when Adrienne and I moved to Texas, Springfield once again emerged as a blip at EDS in Dallas.
It wasn’t until last May that Springfield and I reunited. After being downsized from EDS where he was director of communications for the America’s group, I asked Springfield to join David Henderson and I in a unique project, The News Group Net.
Springfield Lewis in the French Quarter
David had landed an important contract with Imperial Sugar to develop and staff an online newsroom. Imperial Sugar was coming off of some very bad years that included a major tragedy, it needed a voice to move into the future. The News Group Net was asked to become an important part of strategically developing that voice, and Springfield was an intregal part in developing the tone.
During the next few months Springfield and I travelled extensively together, and regained the fast friendship that had started in New Orleans 25 years earlier.
Springfield and Me
Last week was Springfields last day with The News Group Net. Harris Communications, a defense contractor based in Melbourne, Fl has lured him away and it really hurts to see him go. David and I wish him all the best in his new job as Director of Worldwide Corporate Communications. We realize he is needed there, and he will take the company to new heights.
It was fitting that the last job we did for The News Group Net, would be in New Orleans. As we wondered around the French Quarter at night, it was as if we were once again 25 years the younger. He will always be an important part of this company.
New Orleans does change people. It changed mine with a lifelong friendship.
Springfield you will be missed!
