Elizabeth City, N.C. — When Mr. Clifton Lewis stepped foot onto the campus of Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) Feb. 17, two weeks after his 80th birthday, his mind quickly started to walk down memory lane.
"There were less than five buildings on this campus when I was here."
There are now 36 buildings, with two new buildings under construction and another under construction in May.
As he stood looking out of the third-floor window of the Marion D. Thorpe building, he searched for the right words but found none. It was his smile that said it all. Swelling with pride, Lewis sat down to speak with the communications and marketing team with humble reflections of his once-18 year old self, standing 6 feet, 3 inches tall.
Lewis turned 80 years old last month and celebrated with a birthday weekend back on campus for the Feb. 8 men's basketball game.
His journey from a young dreamer in Elizabeth City to a trailblazing athlete at Elizabeth City State University (then Elizabeth City State Teachers College) is evidence of the power of opportunity.
Though born in New York, his grandparents raised him in Elizabeth City from age four. His love for basketball started early. Before ever donning an ECSU jersey, he was just a kid sneaking to the college to watch the players. Longing for the day he could join the ranks, every shot he witnessed from the sidelines fueled his fire.
And sometimes, they would let him play.
"There was a dirt basketball court at the school where I went, and some of the college players used to come over and do their student teaching there," he recalled. "I'd watch them, study their moves, and then come back over here to ECSU to observe the team play. I was maybe 10 to 12 years old, and that's when I knew I wanted to play at the next level."
Lewis, who went on to attend high school at PW Moore High School—the first public African American high school in Pasquotank County—played on the school basketball team, not realizing he had an admirer watching him on the court.
Coach Robert "Bobby" Vaughan, ECSU's legendary basketball coach and a man with an eye for talent, spotted Lewis while refereeing high school games.
"He never said outright that he was scouting me, but then one day, I got a letter in the mail—a full scholarship offer to play for ECSU."
There were no long recruiting visits, no drawn-out conversations—just a letter, a scholarship and an opportunity that would change his life.
"From the time he wrote and sent me a scholarship letter to come to the college, it has been one of the most exciting times in my life."
It wasn't just about basketball. It was about proving that talent in a small town deserved just as much recognition as anywhere else. While others saw boundaries, Lewis saw open doors. He balanced academics, athletics and family responsibilities, living off-campus to care for his grandparents while carrying the pride of an entire city.
For Lewis and his family, that letter was life-changing. "We were poor back then," he said candidly. "Even though I was right here in the city, there was no way my family could have afforded to send me to college. That scholarship meant everything."
At a time when local players weren't seen as top recruits, Lewis shattered expectations. He became the first Elizabeth City native to receive a full basketball scholarship to ECSU—a groundbreaking moment.
"I don't think we had ever had a player from PW Moore at that time come over here to the college to play basketball."
When Lewis arrived at ECSU in 1962, the school's athletic teams were still known as the Pirates.
"We took pride in that name," he said. "Then, between my sophomore and junior years, the school decided to change it to the Vikings. We weren't too happy about that at first, but Coach Vaughan explained that it was necessary—Hampton University also had the Pirates, and the conference didn't want the confusion. So, with a flip of the coin, we became Vikings."
Though the name changed, Coach Vaughan's philosophy did not. His players weren't just expected to excel on the court—they were expected to be role models.
"He made sure we carried ourselves like gentlemen," Lewis said. "By my sophomore year, he had us all wearing navy blue blazers with an ECSU emblem whenever we traveled. We represented the school with class."
On the court, Lewis was a defensive powerhouse, locking down future NBA legend and Hall of Famer Earl "The Pearl" Monroe and standing toe-to-toe with some of the game's best.
"I played against guys who went pro," Lewis said. "Coach Vaughan would yell, 'Don't foul, Nicky!'—Nicky was my nickname. But Monroe was just that good. He had this hook shot that was nearly impossible to stop."
But Lewis' impact didn't stop at the buzzer. He became part of something even greater—history itself. After graduating with a health and physical education degree, Lewis took what he learned at ECSU and carried it forward into a career dedicated to service. He spent over 30 years working in New York, helping elderly and developmentally disabled individuals.
At a time when America was redefining strength, endurance and national health, Lewis was on the front lines. He joined President John F. Kennedy's national fitness initiative. As part of the President's Council on Physical Fitness, Lewis helped revolutionize youth fitness, ensuring children across the country had the foundation to live stronger, healthier lives. He wasn't just coaching—he was shaping a generation.
Lewis became a family man, and his love for ECSU became a family legacy. One of his daughters, Maenecia Lewis Cole, followed in his footsteps and returned to Elizabeth City to attend ECSU, where she received her bachelor's and master's degrees. As an academic advisor, career advisor and a freshman seminar teacher, she often used her father's pictures when teaching the history of ECSU and what it means to have a legacy. His story came full circle through her—a new chapter in the same place where his journey began.
"I always remembered the lessons Coach Vaughan taught me," he said. "Respect, discipline, representing yourself and your community well. Whether in the Bronx or Manhattan, I carried that into my work."
No matter where life took him, Lewis always found his way back to ECSU.
"When I came back to visit, I'd sit in the bleachers with old teammates, just taking it all in," he said. "Basketball evolved, the school grew, but the spirit of ECSU—its dedication to shaping men and women of character—never changed."
Though the times are different, Lewis hopes today's ECSU athletes and students carry forward the same principles that shaped him.
Decades later, he remains a pillar of ECSU's basketball legacy, still sitting in the bleachers, rooting for the next generation and carrying that undying pride. He remembers when the stands overflowed, when the entire community rallied behind their own. He calls on today's students and athletes to reclaim that fire—to represent ECSU with dignity, to stand tall in the face of adversity, and to never forget where they came from.
"My advice? Be decent individuals. Respect people at all times. Represent your school and your community with pride,"he said. "And to the students—get out there and support your teams. Back when I played, the whole town showed up. You couldn't even find a seat. It meant something to wear that jersey, and it still should today."
ECSU has come a long way since Lewis first set foot on campus as a wide-eyed kid watching from the sidelines. The Pirates have become Vikings, the game has changed, and the five buildings that once stood as the entire campus have now multiplied, But one thing remains: the legacy of those who came before.
Elizabeth City isn't just where Lewis played. It is where he made history—on the court, in the classroom, and in the fabric of a nation forever changed by his impact.