Royce R. Lewellen
Royce Rutledge Lewellen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | September 2, 2020 (aged 89) |
| Occupation(s) | Judge, Vineyard co-owner |
| Known for | California Superior Court Judge; co-owner of Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards |
Royce Rutledge Lewellen (September 25, 1930 – September 2, 2020) served as a California Superior Court Judge in Santa Barbara County and is the eponym of the Royce R. Lewellen Justice Center located in Santa Maria, CA. Additionally, he co-owned Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards, a prominent wine producer within Santa Barbara County.
Early years
Lewellen was born in St. Louis, MO, and spent much of his childhood in Jefferson City, MO. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Missouri. After completing two years of service in the U.S. Air Force, he graduated from the Boalt School of Law at the University of California in 1957.
Legal career
Beginning his legal practice in civil law in Solvang, CA, Lewellen also held the position of Solvang Justice Court Judge between 1969 and 1975. Subsequently, he was appointed to the Superior Court in Santa Maria, where he served until his retirement in 1990. In recognition of his contributions, the Santa Maria courthouse complex was named after him in 1992.
Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards
In 1996, Lewellen joined forces with grape cultivator Louis Lucas to establish Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards. The enterprise manages three vineyards across Santa Barbara County that cultivate 24 different grape varieties. It also operates a winery situated in Buellton, CA, along with two tasting rooms located in Solvang.
Community and personal life
Lewellen played a key role as a founding director for both the PCPA Foundation and Solvang Festival Theatre. He was instrumental in founding The Community Bank of Santa Maria and held a long-term directorship at Contract Freighters, Inc. He fathered three sons with his former spouse Judy Guder and was married to Ann Foxworthy Lewellen from 2004 until his passing.