The Lewis family: A legacy of hard work, service and community

Adapted from the 

Cowley Pioneer Day Book

Honored as Citizens Emeritus during Cowley Pioneer Day 2025 celebration, the Lewis family embodies a profound legacy of hard work, self-reliance and community spirit, values deeply instilled by their parents, Mark and Charlotte Lewis. Through their diverse careers, extensive service and unwavering commitment to family, the Lewis siblings -- Rex, Max, Guy, Neil, Scott and Ella -- have each forged remarkable paths while consistently crediting their formative years in Cowley for shaping their character and aspirations.

Rex Lewis

Entrepreneurial visionary and dedicated servant: A BYU alumnus with BA and MBA degrees, Rex launched a three-decade entrepreneurial career after serving a mission in New Zealand. His diverse ventures included -- Real estate development: Building shopping centers in Southern California and more than 500 single-family homes annually in Nevada; Retail management: Operating major grocery chains like Food 4 Less, Smith’s Food King, Ralph’s and Fred Meyer (later merged with Kroger); Resource acquisition: Buying and selling water rights in Southern Nevada, channeling water to Las Vegas via the Colorado River; Agricultural support: Leasing farm equipment to Idaho farmers; Technology innovation: Developing voice recognition software in Novosibirsk, Russia; Biotechnology leadership: Owning and serving as president of a publicly traded company conducting FDA-approved human trials for AIDS medication.

Since retiring in 2008, Rex has dedicated himself to service, including a year teaching international currency management and oral English at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in Guangzhou, China. Happily married to Cathy for more than 50 years, he is a proud father of six and grandfather of 18. He remains active, serving a church mission at an Idaho orchard, piloting for the Civil Air Patrol, snowboarding and playing pickleball. He credits his success to his parents’ teachings of hard work, self-reliance, spirituality, gratitude, humility and resilience.

Max Lewis

Global innovation leader and community pillar: Born and raised in Cowley, Max attended BYU, served a mission in Australia and earned BS and MS degrees in chemical engineering, graduating as valedictorian of the College of Engineering and Technology. His career began in 1979 as a research engineer at Conoco, Inc., where he also earned an MBA from Phillips University. His professional journey took him to Tennessee, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Ohio through assignments with Conoco, DuPont and Sherwin-Williams. Max retired in 2014 as vice president - Global Innovation for the Sherwin-Williams Company, responsible for leveraging the company’s R&D, manufacturing technology and sales technical service capabilities worldwide.

Upon retirement, Max transitioned into entrepreneurial and consultative roles, commercializing technologies from the University of Akron and advising China’s TiO2 industry on new product development and quality. He also served on prestigious boards, including the Paint Research Association (London, UK), Pera International (UK) and the Industrial Research Institute (USA).

Max and his wife, Kary Stevens, have raised eight children and are the proud grandparents of 33 grandchildren. Max held extensive leadership positions within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before serving a full-time mission with Kary in Ecuador. Since returning to Wyoming in 2021, he has been elected to the North Big Horn Hospital District Board of Trustees and the Cowley Town Council, continuing to serve his community. Max credits his Cowley upbringing and the Mark and Charlotte Lewis family for shaping his values and capabilities.

Guy Lewis

Enduring dedication in engineering and service: Guy, another son raised in Cowley, earned BS and MS degrees in chemical engineering and an MBA. His 36-year career saw him employed by prominent companies such as Consolidation Coal Company, Conoco, DuPont, ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66.

His commitment to service extends to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served a full-time mission in Japan and held various leadership roles. Guy has been happily married to Patricia Lewis for 47 years, residing in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. They are blessed with five children and 13 grandchildren. Guy deeply appreciates his parents, Mark and Charlotte Lewis, for teaching him the gospel through their example and for instilling the values of education and perseverance. He cherishes his Cowley roots, crediting his teachers and community for influencing his formative years and shaping his life.

Neil Lewis

Automotive industry veteran rooted in community: After graduating from Cowley High School, Neil earned a BS in chemical engineering and an MBA from BYU. He spent 30 enjoyable years at Ford Motor Company in diverse areas including vehicle development, manufacturing, marketing and sales, gaining deep insights into the automotive business and exposure to various leadership styles.

While working in Michigan, Neil met and married Lois, and they raised three children: Logan, Nicole and Heidi. Their family has since grown to include 10 grandchildren. Throughout his career and family life, Neil actively served in various responsibilities for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon retirement from Ford, Neil moved to Florida. Despite his travels, Neil emphasizes that the values established in Cowley -- of “real people working hard and doing their best and being accepted for who they are” -- have always remained with him. He considers Cowley his true home and strives to never forget his roots and the lessons learned there.

Scott Lewis

Engineering and surveying entrepreneur with deep roots:  Scott, born in Cowley in 1960, grew up assisting with household chores and farm responsibilities. After graduating from Cowley High School in 1979, he attended BYU for a year before serving a two-year mission in Auckland, New Zealand. Returning to BYU, he earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering by 1987. During his studies, Scott met Melinda Gauchay, whom he married in 1984. They are blessed with five children and 11 grandchildren.

Upon completing his education, Scott joined Inberg-Miller Engineers (IME) in Riverton, where he managed the soils laboratory and later established an office in Powell in 1992. His dedication led him to obtain dual licensure as a professional engineer and professional land surveyor in 2006, and he advanced to vice president at IME. In 2013, Scott founded his own firm, Granite Engineering and Surveying, in Powell.

Scott has also served extensively within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in numerous capacities. He continues to reside in Powell, enjoying his profession in the Big Horn Basin and engaging in home improvement projects, always upholding the enduring values imparted to him during his upbringing in Cowley.

Ella Lewis Rolfs 

Marketing, IT and community volunteer:  Ella, a graduate of Rocky Mountain High School, attended BYU, majoring in humanities with an English emphasis. She paused her studies to serve an 18-month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Illinois. Upon her return, she graduated and accepted a marketing associate position with Hillrom in Indiana. Ella then returned to BYU to complete an MBA in finance, graduating Cum Laude and subsequently joined Target Corporation in Minneapolis. At Target, she initially worked in finance for two years before being promoted to the marketing division and then to the IT department, where she managed a team of eight.

After the birth of her first child, Ella chose to focus on raising her family. She and her husband, David, currently have four children, a daughter-in-law, a son-in-law and one grandchild. They reside in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Ella dedicates her time to working with children in her church, volunteering at a local hospital, packing food at local food shelves and learning Spanish.

Ella attributes her candor and integrity to her upbringing in Cowley, where people are authentic and confident. She cherishes her visits back to Cowley, appreciating the strong community support, adaptability and the way people preserve their roots while giving back. She often says, “You can take the girl out of Cowley, but you can’t take the Cowley out of this girl,” reflecting the lasting impact of her genuine and peaceful hometown.