The Pride of Napoleon Lewis

A veteran principal brought hope and self-respect to South Dallas' Lincoln High. But even some of his loyal followers say it's time for him to step down.

Comments (0) By Denise Mcvea Thursday, Jul 25 1996

"'Don't you think I did the right thing?'" she recalls him asking.
"No, I do not," she replied.
"'You never agree with me,'" she says he told her.

After the assembly, Wallace went to Lewis' office and told him he could not fire the ladies. According to Wallace, he exploded. "'You don't tell me what to do,'" she says he yelled. "'Now get out of my office.'"

Wallace says she could feel the blood coursing through her face. "I'm not going anywhere today," she shot back. "But I will leave this school."

Later, after Wallace had already put in a transfer request, Lewis apologized, saying everybody was mad at him. He called DISD Superintendent Woolery and asked him to reverse the request, but it was too late. Wallace had already been accepted as vice principal of Spence Middle School.

Wallace says it broke her heart to leave Lincoln and Lewis, whom she considers a mentor, but that she could no longer reason with the man.

"He has done so many wonderful things, and I know he wants to keep doing things for the students, but his health and his age are not allowing him to think clearly," she says.

"I think there comes a time when we have to say we have done the best we can, and we need to go home.