Norwich University

During his four-year swimming career, Palmer Lewis dominated every event in which he competed. From 1981-1984, he earned individual All-American honors a combined 13 times in the 200, 500, and 1,650-yard freestyle events. He also broke school records in the 100 and 1,000-yard freestyle. Ten years later he still holds the records in these events. 
Lewis started his collegiate career at Hamilton College. He won All-American honors in four categories as a freshman and then transferred to Norwich for the start of his sophomore year. 
Palmer's swimming success continued upon his arrival at Norwich. The 1,650-yar dfreestyle was Lewis' strongest event and in 1983 he won the national championship at that distance while setting an NCAA Division III record in the process. 
Lewis was an All-American in the 200, 500, and 1,650-yard freestyle events in each of his three years at Norwich. He won the New England Championships in the 1,650 each year from 1982-84 and would set the New England record for that event which still stands today. In 27 dual swim meets and three Vermont State Championships he never lost an individual event against any level of competition. His accomplishments are more impressive when one considers that he often had to finish winning one event and then jump back in the water to compete in another. 
Not only was Palmer an exceptional athlete, he was also an active participant in the Corps of Cadets and a member of the Honor Committee. Upon graduating from Norwich in 1984 with a bachelor's degree in biology, Lewis attended Tufts University School of Dental Medicine where he received his DMD in 1989. As a member of the medial profession, Palmer received the Tufts University Alumni Association Award for his work in pediatric dentistry. He has his own private practice and resides in Haverhill, Massachusetts, with his wife, Janet Duff-Lewis and their son, Benjamin.