FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Alexander Laska
202-879-4700
publicaffairs@enotrans.org
Joint statement from the Eno Board of Directors on the death of former U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Andrew Lindsay “Drew” Lewis (1981-1983). Secretary Lewis passed away on February 10, 2016 at the age of 84:
“Secretary Lewis came to Washington in 1981 and was immediately thrust into the spotlight while handling the air traffic controllers’ strike of 1981. He is regarded as one of the most consequential figures in transportation over the past 50 years. His leadership was vital to the department and the industry. As the Washington Post reported in 1982, Secretary Lewis was ‘generally regarded as the most able domestic Cabinet officer in the administration.’ His presence on the President’s Cabinet was transformational for the industry. Throughout his tenure, he modernized the aviation system and kept it safe during the 1981 air traffic controller strike. He also negotiated bipartisan support for an increase in user fees to help expand the nation’s highway and mass transit systems and rallied support for legislation to restructure and strengthen Conrail.
“Secretary Lewis’s passing is particularly poignant as it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“The Eno Center for Transportation joins the rest of the transportation industry in mourning the loss of Secretary Lewis. Our thoughts are with his family during this time.”
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