Former Florida congressman, war veteran Tom Lewis dies

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Former Rep. Tom Lewis, who served in two wars before his 12 years in Congress, died at a Palm Beach hospital Saturday, his daughter said. He was 78.

Mickey Bowman, 54, Lewis' oldest daughter, declined to discuss the cause of her father's death.

Lewis, a North Palm Beach Republican, served in the House from 1983 through 1994. He sat on the Science and Technology Committee and was instrumental in saving the Hurricane Hunter Plane Program, which sends planes out to gather hurricane data for meteorologists.

"It's one of the reasons why when Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida, it wasn't as devastating as it could have been," said Bowman.

Rep. Mark Foley, who represents Lewis' former district, remembered him Saturday as one of Florida's "finest public servants."

More here