Chicago's 24th ward encompassed the
North Lawndale community area, known locally as "Lawndale", which was a Russian Jewish stronghold into the 1950s, after which it became predominantly black. Despite the Jewish flight in the 1950s, whites continued to control the ward and fought to retain that control; Judge Carl H. Smith dismissed the suit on June 6, holding the complaint to be insufficient, and Lewis took office on April 8, 1958. During his tenure, he courted controversy when he referred clients to his own insurance business despite receiving $50 a month and five percent on commissions of business for referring clients to insurance agent Arthur X. Elrod, Inc. 13,189 votes to 888.
Jimmy Hoffa historian
Dan Moldea claimed that the hitman was a friend of
Jack Ruby. It was popularly believed at the time that the murder was unsolvable as there were too many suspects given Lewis's activities, After Lewis's death the office of 24th ward alderman remained vacant until future Congressman
George W. Collins assumed it on January 21, 1964. ==Legacy==