D.D. Lewis was born October 16, 1945 in Knoxville, Tennessee - the youngest of 14 children. He was named after two great Generals of World War II – Dwight Eisenhower and Douglas MacArthur. 

D.D. starred at Mississippi State University from 1965 to 1967 as a two-way player and three-year starter. He led Mississippi State in tackles and assists all three of his varsity seasons and was named team captain his senior year and graduated from Mississippi State. D.D. joined the National Football League in 1968 and played for the Dallas Cowboys until 1981.

His college and professional career includes:
All-Southeastern Conference – 1966 and 1967; SEC Defensive Player of the Year – 1967; All-American – 1967; College Football Hall of Fame

He wore # 50 for the Dallas Cowboys for 14 years; 12 NFC Divisional Contests and 1 NFC Wild Card Contest; 9 NFC Championship Games; 5 Super Bowl appearances; 2 World Championship victories; Holds Dallas Cowboys playoff record with 27 games
Voted the “Most Popular Player” by the Cowboys fans and given the Bart Starr Meritorious Award in 1981

Tom Landry named D.D. as starting linebacker in 1973, a position he held for nine years until his retirement after the 1981 season;
Tom Landry once said of D.D “of all the players I coached with the Dallas Cowboys, D.D. Lewis was certainly one of them!”

D.D. is married to Diane Walters and they have two daughters, Melna & Victoria, and a son, Brook Barnes. His family attend Chase Oaks Church in Plano, Texas. He is currently retired.