Interviewer(s): T. McGuire. Houma, LA

Affiliation: University of Arizona

Hartwell Lewis was referred to us by Tom Becnel as, simply, a banker. I interviewed him at his home, where he has an office. The interview covered a number of topics related to business in Houma and Hartwell's activities as a venture capitalist, lending money to companies that had trouble borrowing from banks. He prides himself on building these companies up to the point where they can approach standard lenders.

Hartwell Lewis came to Houma in 1950, as an accounting machine salesman, traveling a 5-parish area. Born in Abbeville, he spent a summer in high school working for a drilling company as a roustabout. After high school he went into the Navy, and served in Navy intelligence. He returned to get a business administration degree at Southwestern (ULL). In 1954, living in Houma, he was offered a job managing an insurance agency, and began a career as a venture capitalist, loaning money to struggling companies. Mr. Lewis is active in the Houma Rotary Club, serves on local boards such as the YMCA, and has been named a Citizen of the Year.