Lewis, Ralph

Ralph Lewis studied at University of Chicago as an undergraduate student (PhB 1932), then studied at Chicago Theological Seminary. Lewis went on to serve as a minister, parole officer, and World War II chaplain. During and after the war Lewis participated in sociological surveys of US soldiers, as well as civilians in Germany and Korea.

Profoundly influenced by the work and encouragement of Ernest Watson Burgess, Lewis returned to University of Chicago for further study in sociology, and completed his Master's degree in 1958. He spent most of his career as a sociologist with the US State Department.

Lewis retired from the State Department in 1979, and lived in Santa Barbara, California until his death in 1995. A gift from Lewis to the University of Chicago established the Ralph Lewis Professorship in Sociology.