US Congressman. He graduated from Miles College in 1936, where he was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and became a schoolteacher and principal before returning to Miles as an associate professor. In 1940 he became a sales representative for Atlanta Life Insurance. In 1950, by now a manager, he moved to Chicago to establish a new company office. He stayed in Chicago, and in 1968 left Atlanta Life to begin work as a city building inspector and urban renewal consultant. Long active in Chicago's Democratic party, in 1971 Stewart was elected Alderman, and he served until 1978. He was also a delegate to the 1972 and 1976 Democratic national conventions. In 1978 he won election to the US House of Representatives and served one term, 1979 to 1981. As an Appropriations Committee member, he played a role in obtaining the federal loan guarantees that helped save the Chrysler Corporation, which employed over 1,500 of his constituents. Stewart was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1980, losing to future Mayor Harold Washington. From 1981 to 1983 he served as Interim Director of the city's Department of Intergovernmental Affairs and Administrative Assistant to Mayor Jane Byrne, afterwards living in retirement in Chicago.
US Congressman. He graduated from Miles College in 1936, where he was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and became a schoolteacher and principal before returning to Miles as an associate professor. In 1940 he became a sales representative for Atlanta Life Insurance. In 1950, by now a manager, he moved to Chicago to establish a new company office. He stayed in Chicago, and in 1968 left Atlanta Life to begin work as a city building inspector and urban renewal consultant. Long active in Chicago's Democratic party, in 1971 Stewart was elected Alderman, and he served until 1978. He was also a delegate to the 1972 and 1976 Democratic national conventions. In 1978 he won election to the US House of Representatives and served one term, 1979 to 1981. As an Appropriations Committee member, he played a role in obtaining the federal loan guarantees that helped save the Chrysler Corporation, which employed over 1,500 of his constituents. Stewart was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1980, losing to future Mayor Harold Washington. From 1981 to 1983 he served as Interim Director of the city's Department of Intergovernmental Affairs and Administrative Assistant to Mayor Jane Byrne, afterwards living in retirement in Chicago.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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