Newsmaker: Frank Lewis III

Noteworthy: Lewis was named the Pennsylvania Prison Chaplains Association's Correctional Chaplain of the Year during the group's recent annual banquet in Carlisle. The award is given to those who have demonstrated the highest level of professionalism, integrity and compassion for offenders and staff in their service as a chaplain. The association, which has 150 members at state and county prisons in Pennsylvania, seeks to elevate the standards of religious programs in correctional facilities while improving the effectiveness of chaplains at those institutions.

Age: 65

Residence: Hempfield

Family: Wife, Linda; son, Frank IV; daughter, Brenda Marie

Education: Bachelor's degree in education from Northpoint Bible College, Haverhill, Mass. Studied ministry at Evangel University, Springfield, Mo.

Occupation: Chaplain program director at the State Correctional Institution Fayette

Background: Lewis is a retired Assembly of God minister who served for 40 years in churches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. He last served at the Assembly of God Church in Scottdale. He was certified as a chaplain through the Assemblies of God, Chaplaincy Ministries. He began his prison work when he was 35 while serving as a pastor of a church north of New York City. He was paid $75 a week to lead Bible studies and worship services at the Ulster County Prison in Kingston, N.Y. He served as the good news prison minister at the Fayette County Jail, Uniontown. Lewis began his career with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections in September 2006 at SCI Fayette. He supervises two full-time and five contracted chaplains at the prison. His department addresses the spiritual needs of about 2,000 inmates.

Quote: “I am a very fortunate man. Most people that have to go to jail don't get to go out. When I go to jail, I get to leave at the end of the day. Ministering to the inmates has been a privilege.”