The Norman Transcript

Steve Lewis began his time as Norman's city manager this week. Mayor Cindy Rosenthal introduced him at a reception Tuesday night and presented him with a crimson OU polo shirt.

Mr. Lewis, a former Texas A--M football player whose son plays for Oklahoma State University, gets dispensation two OU football weekends a year. He can cheer for Texas A--M and for OSU.

Oddly enough, Mr. Lewis is not the first former Texas A--M football player to sit in the Norman city manager's chair. Lee Rodgers, a retired OU professor and a renowned city planner, says A--M tackle T.E. Thompson served as Norman's city manager after the war until 1948.

Rodgers, back from the war and working for the city, says Mr. Thompson was a great city manager. Norman exploded in post-war student growth during that period with lots of water and sewer lines. The first traffic signal was installed during that time at Boyd Street and Classen Boulevard. City planning moved ahead, too.

Mr. Rodgers said Mr. Thompson was able to get war surplus trucks and pipeline digging equipment. He was also good at finding money to get materials.

Expectations of Mr. Lewis are running just as high. If he can get the streets fixed, the Robinson Street underpass built on time, make the transition to curbside recycling and keep the water coming in and the sewage going out, we'll think about tolerating his Texas Aggie loyalties.