Lewis Hancock, Jr.

Who was Lewis Hancock, Jr.?

Lewis Hancock, Jr. served in the United States Navy during World War I as a submariner. He later became a naval aviator. His father, Lewis Hancock, was a prominent banker and served as the mayor of Austin, Texas from 1895 to 1897 while also creating the first public golf course, which today remains as the nine-hole Hancock Golf Course in central Austin.

Lewis Hancock, Jr. was born on October 15, 1889 in Austin, Texas. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy from that state in 1906 and graduated in June 1910. He served in the battleship Vermont before being commissioned as an Ensign in March 1912, then underwent submarine instruction and served in the new submarine G-1. In 1913–1915 Ensign Hancock commanded the submarine C-2. Promoted to Lieutenant in 1915, he was Commanding Officer of the submarine L-4 in 1916–1918, receiving the Navy Cross for "distinguished service" in her during World War I combat operations against German U-boats. Later in 1918 Lieutenant Commander Hancock was Captain of another submarine, L-7. He also had wartime and post-war tours as a machinery inspector.