[1] Lewis received his early education in Montgomery County where no public high school program was available to black children at the time.
Lewis was involved in athletics at the high school and college level, participating in both football and baseball.
[1] In 1933 Rufus Lewis became a faculty member at Alabama State Teachers College where he worked as the athletic coach and librarian.
[1] After the war ended, Lewis established classes for black Montgomery residents who wanted to pass the literacy tests they were required to complete to vote.
[4] Lewis first became active in the voter registration movement in 1938 when he went to work with students in the “Citizenship Club” at Alabama State Laboratory High School.
[1] During the early 40s, Lewis set up schools and clinics to teach community members, especially veterans, to fill out the required literacy test to become a registered voter.
[3] In 1954 Lewis worked with Jo Ann Robinson and E. D. Nixon to organize the Citizen Coordinating Committee to advance efforts in civic consciousness and get people registered to vote.
[7] Lewis’ early work as a civil rights activist lead to a successful political career later in life.