 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Bennett Stewart" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(October 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Bennett Stewart | |
|---|---|
 congressional portrait, circa 1979 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois's1st district | |
| In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Ralph Metcalfe |
| Succeeded by | Harold Washington |
| Chicago Alderman from the 21st Ward | |
| In office 1971–1979 | |
| Preceded by | Wilson Frost |
| Succeeded by | Niles Sherman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 6, 1912 Huntsville, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | April 26, 1988(1988-04-26) (aged 75)[1] Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2[1] |
| Education | Miles College |
Bennett McVey Stewart (August 6, 1912 – April 26, 1988)[1] was an American politician who as a part of theDemocratic party served as aU.S. representative fromIllinois (1979–1981) and as a member of theChicago City Council (1971–1979).
Stewart was born inHuntsville, Alabama, to Bennett Stewart Sr. and Cathleen Jones. Stewart was baptized at Meridianville P.B. Church. Stewart attended the public schools in Huntsville andBirmingham. Stewart received a B.A. fromMiles College in Birmingham in 1936.[1] Stewart was a member ofAlpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
After graduating college, Stewart worked as the assistant principal of Irondale High School in 1936. Two years after becoming assistant principal of Irondale, Stewart became an associate professor ofsociology at Miles College in 1938. Stewart worked as an insurance executive in 1940, and as the Illinois director for Atlanta Life Insurance Co. in 1950. Stewart and his family relocated to Chicago, Illinois in 1951 due to the insurance company Chicago branch opening. After seventeen years with Atlanta Life Insurance Co., Stewart began work as an inspector of theChicago Building Department in 1968.[1] Stewart was a rehabilitation specialist for the Chicago Department of Urban Renewal in 1968.
In 1971, Stewart was elected to theChicago City Council, unseatingWilson Frost in the 21st ward. The following year, Stewart was elected to also serve as the ward's Democraticcommitteeman. He was re-elected as alderman in 1975 and as the ward's committeeman in 1976.
Stewart was a delegate to the several Illinois State Democratic conventions held between 1971 and 1978. He was also delegate to theDemocratic National Conventions in1972 and1976.
Stewart was elected as a Democrat to the96th Congress. He failed in his bid for renomination in 1980, losing the Democratic primary toHarold Washington, who went on to win the general election.
Stewart then served as administrative assistant to MayorJane Byrne in Chicago from 1981 to 1983.
Stewart died on April 26, 1988, aged 75 atUniversity of Chicago Hospital. Stewart funeral services was held at St. Paul Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Chicago on April 30, 1988.[1] At the time of his death, Stewart was survived by his wife since 1938, Pattye Crittenden. Together Stewart and Crittenden had two sons, Bennett Jr., and Ronald, a daughter, Miriam Stewart Early.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Bennett M. Stewart | 47,581 | 58.54 | |
| Republican | A. A. Rayner Jr. | 33,540 | 41.27 | |
| Write-in | 158 | 0.19 | ||
| Total votes | 81,279 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Harold Washington | 30,522 | 47.70 | |
| Democratic | Ralph H. Metcalfe, Jr. | 12,356 | 19.31 | |
| Democratic | Bennett M. Stewart (incumbent) | 10,810 | 16.90 | |
| Democratic | John H. Stroger, Jr. | 10,284 | 16.07 | |
| Write-in | 11 | 0.02 | ||
| Total votes | 63,983 | 100.0 | ||
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromIllinois's 1st congressional district 1979–1981 | Succeeded by |
| People | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
