After retiring from the Navy, Captain Bill Lewis embarked on a new mission—taking his passion for the game of golf and using it as a tool to share the gospel with young people. In January of 1977, Lewis founded FCA Golf, the organization’s first ever sports specific ministry, out of his condo at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

For the next 20 years, Captain Bill, as he was best known in the golfing community, organized popular FCA Pro-Am fundraising events and FCA Golf camps across the country. Lewis worked with many PGA and LPGA professionals such as Jack Nicklaus, Betsy King, and Patty Berg in his efforts to grow the ministry. The first camp took place in 1981 at Pine Needles Resort in Southern Pines, N.C., and included special guest clinicians Larry Nelson and Peggy Kirk Bell.

As his influence within the game grew, Lewis facilitated player-led Bibles studies for LGPA athletes and led many members of the golf community to Christ. Lewis also had a book ministry that gave golfers access to a wide array of Christian printed materials and Bibles.

Prior to his days with FCA Golf, Lewis attended the Naval Academy and saw action for 13 months in the Pacific during World War II. His service earned him five battle stars, but also led to a drug and alcohol problem. It was during that difficult time when he began reading the Bible and ultimately accepted Christ as his Savior. Lewis’ first involvement with FCA came in 1966 when he became active with the Huddle in Washington, D.C. Two years later, he was named Mid-Atlantic Regional Director and later became Eastern Regional Director.

Following his passing in 2005, FCA Golf created the Through the Shade Tree Scholarship Fund in Lewis’ honor. The scholarship helps provide young people with the resources needed to attend FCA Junior Golf Camps.