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Lewis Bear Jr.

  • Honorary Doctorate Degree of Human Letters '23

Biography

Lewis Bear Jr. was a highly regarded leader in the Pensacola community and the state of Florida, where he was well-known and respected for his business and philanthropic contributions. His work and dedication touched the lives of countless people and will continue to have a profound impact on the community for generations to come.

Bear attended PK Young school in Pensacola before earning his high school diploma in 1959 at the Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. In 1960, Bear attended Vanderbilt University to study Chemical Engineering before transferring to Troy State University, where in 1963, he earned bachelor’s degrees in Math and English, with a minor in Art.

Upon graduation, Bear joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a Technical Sergeant before his Honorable Discharge in 1969.

In 1965, while in the Air Force Reserves, Bear began his career at The Lewis Bear Company, a family-owned wholesale grocery and beverage distribution business founded in 1876 by his great-grandfather. Working the next 20 years in various positions, Bear earned the role of President and CEO in 1985, where he remained until the time of his death. In 1995, after selling the grocery business to Grocery Supply Company and acquiring the beverage business from his extended family, he was instrumental in its growth and expansion, which became a major distributor of Anheuser-Busch and other beverage products in Northwest Florida. The Lewis Bear Company is the oldest, continuously family-owned Anheuser Busch wholesale distributor in the world, and the oldest privately held corporation in Florida, facts he held close to his heart.

Apart from his business ventures, Bear was also deeply committed to his community. He was involved in dozens of philanthropic organizations across the state and was a major contributor to healthcare, education, and cultural initiatives in the Pensacola community.

Bear served over 10 years on the UWF Board of Trustees, including terms as Chairman, where he was instrumental in the development of the university infrastructure, programming, and processes.  He served as a past member of the UWF Foundation Board of Directors, campaign chair for the UWF Foundation, and a Fellow for the UWF Foundation. He was bestowed an honorary Doctorate Degree of Humane Letters, generally awarded for significant contributions to society and a lifetime of service.

Bear established multiple endowments, the Lewis and Belle Bear Facilities Endowment Fund at Temple Beth-El, the Lewis Bear Company Endowment for Excellence in Business Education at UWF, as well as the Bear-Bonner Endowment Fund at Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research. He also created scholarships at both Pensacola State College and UWF. 

Bear’s legacy will continue to live on through his family and the various charitable organizations he supported along with his wife, Belle, and their children. Through his generosity, the Bear Family Foundation was established in 2007. Since that time, the family foundation has contributed nearly $14 million to 114 nonprofit organizations in the communities served by The Lewis Bear Company. 

Throughout his life, Bear was known for his unwavering commitment to his family and his deep devotion to his wife, Belle. Bear passed away with his family by his side on March 3, 2023.