Lewis E. Owens has been president and publisher of the Lexington Herald-Leader since 1988. He is a native of Knoxville. He started his newspaper career in 1956 as an advertising salesman for the Fort Worth Press, following his graduation from Gainesville College in Texas. Owens served in advertising management positions at the Gainesville (Texas) Daily Register, Charlotte Observer and News, and Tallahassee Democrat before being named advertising director at the Lexington Herald-Leader in 1975. He later became vice president for sales and marketing and then general manager. He is highly active in the community, served as campaign chairman and president of United Way of the Bluegrass, and as board chairman of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce and the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau. He was president of the Kentucky Press Association in 1984 and voted Most Valuable Member in 1980. He currently serves on numerous civic and community boards and is vice president of the Henry Clay Memorial Foundation. Owens is an industry leader in circulation pricing, Newspapers in Education programs and newspaper production advancements.