Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
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Leewis, Tex
Lewis, James Kelly, 1924
Lewis, James K.
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Description area
Dates of existence
History
James K. ""Tex"" Lewis was born on October 24, 1924, in Waco, Texas. He earned a B.S. in Animal Science from Colorado State University in 1948 and an M.S. in Animal Science from Montana State College in 1951, later pursuing graduate studies in range management at Texas A&M University.
As a professor of Animal Sciences at South Dakota State University, Lewis specialized in range management and range livestock nutrition. His research at the Cottonwood and Antelope Range Field Stations focused on grazing systems, supplementation trials, range improvements, and biometric analyses of grassland ecosystems. He was honored with several awards, including the Special Appreciation Award (1975), the Trail Boss Award (1980), and the Outstanding Achievement Award (1984) from the Society for Range Management.
Lewis retired from SDSU in 1985, leaving a lasting impact on the field of range science. His legacy continues through the long-term data he collected, which remains a valuable resource for contemporary research in sustainable rangeland and livestock management. Current studies analyzing stocking rates, forage productivity, and ecological sustainability continue to build on the foundational work Lewis conducted across South Dakota’s rangelands.