Betty Lewis (1925–2008) grew up in Santa Cruz, California and attended school there for 12 years then going to Salinas Jr. College. She started writing historical articles for the Watsonville Register Pajaronian in 1974. Her weekly column titled "That Was Watsonville" appeared every Thursday evening in that newspaper. She has also written articles for the Santa Cruz Sentinel, Salinas Californian and various other publications. She authored nine historical books of Watsonville and surrounding areas.
"Holy City: Riker's Religious Roadside Attraction" Riker or the "Emancipator" and founder of Holy City, California. Holy City founded in 1919 as road side attraction for motorist traveling the Old Santa Cruz Highway between San Jose and Santa Cruz offered auto service and philosophy for all those willing to stop."William H. Weeks, Architect"Monterey Bay Yesterday"Watsonville Memories That Linger - vols. I & 2"Watsonville : Memories that Linger"Victorian Homes of Watsonville""Watsonville Images by Edgar L. Clarkk; pioneer Watsonville photographer"SCOPE Award for research and writing 1977 & 1978Hubert Wyckoff Memorial Award - 1979Woman Of the Year/Watsonville/1987 - 1993Mabel Rowe Curtis Award for research and writingSanta Cruz Historical Trust Award for book on architect William WeeksRotary Club Paul Harris award - for excellence in contributing to community by way of writing, speaking, preserving history 1996Ten research grants from San Jose University1974 – Victorian Homes of Wat. – revised 19811974 – Walking & Driving Tour of Wat.1975 – Highlights in the history of WAT. Wat. Fed. Sav.1976 – Wat. Memories That Linger – three printings1977 – Monterey Bay Yesterday – 3 printings1986 – Vignette Wat history on KOMY radio station1978 – Wat. Yesterday – 100 radio programs1980 – Wat. Memories That Linger Vol. II1985 – W.H. Weeks, architect 1989 reprinted1992 – Holy City, Santa Cruz mountains reprinted 19941995 – Edgar L. Clark photo book PVHA1973 & 1974 - research of Watsonville1976 – Research of William H. Weeks, Architect1977 – Research of Gilroy, California1979, 1982–1985 – newspapers on microfilm1986 & 1987 – research of Carnegie Libraries1988 – Research of Holy CityAwards And Honors
1976 & 1877 from Historical Preservation1977 & 1978 – Scope Award for writing1977 – 1st woman to be Grand Marshal of 4 July parade1979 – Research & writing from Friends of Octagon1979 – Hubert Wyckoff Memorial award PVHA1987 – Woman Of the Year – Chamber of Commerce1993 – Mabel Rowe Curtis – research & writing1995 – Research, writing – S.C. Historical Trust1996 – Paul Harris award – RotaryWatsonville-Register Pajaronian Watsonville Register-Pajaronian– 1974 random articles
"That Was Watsonville" (every Thursday since then)2005 – City Council of Watsonville named her official city historian2006 – Memorial bench in city plazaMarried Monte Lewis of Watsonville in 1946 and they have four children, seven grandchildren and two identical twin great grandsons.
