Lewis Spicer completed his scholastic athletic career more than 60 years ago, but his legacy continues today on the fields and courts throughout Watertown.

By the time Spicer graduated from Watertown High School in 1941, he had established a well-earned reputation as an all-around standout athlete. He played under coach Bill Graf's undefeated football team in 1940, winning a championship. He also excelled in baseball, basketball and tennis.

Upon enrolling at Syracuse University, he played football, basketball and baseball, but at the height of World War II, he enlisted in the Army, serving for 17 months before receiving a certified disability discharge.

Back at Syracuse, he played halfback and end for the final three games of the 1944 football season, then began a period on the basketball court where he made his biggest impact. The 6-foot-1 Spicer was a starter for two straight years for SU. In his senior year, he helped Syracuse to a 15-2 start as a co-captain with teammate Billy Gabor. SU finished the year 23-4 and made the postseason for the first time in program history.

Spicer then played professional basketball, signing with the NBA's Providence Steamrollers, then playing for the Syracuse Nationals in 1946. He moved on to the Wheeling Puritans of the All-American Basketball League in 1947.

He graduated from Syracuse law school and passed his bar exam in 1947. He also married Ernestene Blankenship in December of the year.

Although his city attorney responsibilities — he was city assistant corporation counsel until 1959 and served as the Republican election commissioner from 1967 until his death in 1981 — kept him busy, sports were never far away. He played and coached for several city basketball and softball teams. He started a semipro basketball team for the American Legion called "Lew Spicer's Legionnaires" and played throughout the north country in 1947. In 1961, he won the city singles tennis championship.

Spicer battled Parkinson's disease for years and died at age 58 on June 23, 1981.

Spicer's children, sons Casey and Michael, and daughter Chris, all played sports, but his grandchildren have carried the athletic tradition to a new level. Graeme Spicer started at quarterback for WHS and was a Times All-North baseball team pick in 1998. Michael Spicer started in soccer, basketball and baseball for Immaculate Heart Central in 1999 and 2000. Christian Spicer, a former All-North standout in baseball and football at IHC, is entering his senior season for the St. Lawrence University baseball team. Adriana Spicer is a key part of the IHC girls basketball team, and her twin brother, Ryan, played quarterback on the IHC modified team and also plays JV basketball and baseball. Two other grandchildren, Spicer and Katie Matthews, have competed in snowboarding and gymnastics, respectively.