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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = James E. Stewart
| name = James E. Stewart
| image =
| image = James E. Stewart Oklahoma Hall of Fame Portait.jpg
| office = President of Oklahoma City NAACP Chapter
| office = President of Oklahoma City NAACP Chapter
| term = 1942-1959
| term = 1942-1959

Revision as of 15:56, 23 June 2021

James E. Stewart
File:James E. Stewart Oklahoma Hall of Fame Portait.jpg
BornSeptember 16, 1912
Plano, Collin County, Texas, United States of America
DiedApril 13, 1997
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States of America
Occupation(s)Civil Rights Leader and Business Executive
OfficePresident of Oklahoma City NAACP Chapter
Term1942-1959

James “Jimmy” Edward Stewart Sr. was a Civil Rights Leader and Business Executive from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.


Stewart was noted for “his ability to work with almost anyone, regardless of religion, color, or political belief” and for never backing down from what he believed, but always standing his ground “in a manner which commanded respect.”[1] An excellent communicator with ties to wealthy white businessmen in Oklahoma City, Stewart was a key figure in helping to end segregation and begin the integration of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City in the 20th century.

Early Life and Education

James Edward Stewart Sr. was born in Plano, Texas on September 16, 1912 and moved with his family to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1916.[2] Stewart's father, Zena Thomas Stewart, died in 1920, leaving his mother, Mary Magdeline Fegalee Stewart to support the family on 35 cents per day.[3][4] Stewart attended Douglass High School in Oklahoma City with fellow student Ralph Ellison, with whom Stewart would become friends, and graduated from Wichita North High School.[5]


In 1932, Stewart married Mae Belle Hayes and together they had a son, Don Gilbert Stewart. The couple divorced in 1934.[6] On May 12, 1942 Stewart married Mae Lois Layne and together they had a son and daughter, James Edward Stewart Jr. and Zandra Jean Stewart, respectively.[7]

Career and Civil Rights Leader

Oklahoma Natural Gas

Stewart began working as a janitor for Oklahoma Natural Gas in June of 1937 after Thomas H. Sterling, a senior official for the company and acquaintance of Stewart, offered him the position.[8] In September of 1940, after a few years of hard work, recognized effort, and trust from supervisors, Stewart was selected to be the Manager of the Eastside ONG Office in Oklahoma City.[9]

In January 1976, after three decades as the manager of the Eastside ONG office, Stewart was appointed assistant to the vice-president of Oklahoma Natural Gas, William Nash Pirtle.[10] Stewart retired from work in 1977 and dedicated his retirement to focusing on civil rights issues.[11] Following his retirement, Stewart used his position as a former ONG official and as the Former Chapter President of the Oklahoma City NAACP to help draft the NAACP Energy Statement in 1978, which proposed solutions to the ongoing American energy crisis.[12]

The Black Dispatch

Stewart was close friends with, and often advised by, Roscoe Dunjee, the founder and editor of the Black Dispatch.[13] He regularly began writing a column for the paper called “Jimmy Says” in 1939 where he would discuss various social and political events occurring in Oklahoma City, especially those on the eastside of town.[14] Stewart later served as an editorial writer for the paper.[15]

Military Service

Stewart volunteered for duty in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. but was his acceptance was delayed due to an investigation into his column at the Black Dispatch, which had caused him to be labeled a troublemaker. When the Marines accepted him in 1942, he was assigned to the 51st Defense Battalion, the first black battalion in the Marines.[16] During his time with the Marines, Stewart rose to the rank of Steward First Class and was honorably discharged on December 6, 1945.[17]

Civil Rights

Stewart played an active role in the civil rights movement from the 1930's until his death. Stewart was, over the course of his life, in a leadership role in over 25 organizations, including: the Citizens' Chamber of Commerce, the Governor of Oklahoma’s Energy Committee, the United Way of Oklahoma City, the YMCA, the Langston University Alumni Association, and the University of Oklahoma Foundation.[18]

NAACP

Stewart became involved in the local NAACP Chapter in the 1930's and served on several committees.[19] Roscoe Dunjee nominated him for vice-president of the OKC Chapter in January of 1942. But after the sudden departure of the chapter president, Stewart found himself filling that vacancy a month later at Dunjee's advice.[19] He left the position when he joined the Marines, but was re-elected President of the Oklahoma City NAACP Chapter upon his return, where he soon got to work ensuring equal employment opportunities for black people. This started with a letter-writing campaign to open the local postal service to hiring black postal employees.[20] Stewart worked to get jobs for blacks in several places where they had been previously rejected or unable to move up the chain of command, such as Tinker Air Force Base.[21]

As President of the OKC Chapter of the NAACP, a position he would hold until 1957,[22] Stewart was key in the desegregation of schools, especially the integration of the University of Oklahoma where he worked with Thurgood Marshall[23] and others to help Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher become the first black law student to attend[24] and Prentice Gautt become the first black athlete to attend.[25]

Stewart also held several national roles within the NAACP. In 1947, Stewart and other leaders drafted a plan to create regional offices in order to allow for the better management of the organization. In 1948, following the approval of the plan, Stewart was selected to be on the board of directors for the Southwest Region, a role he held for 24 years.[26] Stewart was key in bringing the NAACP National Convention to Oklahoma City, lobbying the national office of the NAACP to host it. In 1952 Oklahoma City hosted the NAACP National Convention as a result of Stewart's lobbying of the National Board. The conference was attended by 2000 people and organized by Stewart with the help of other local NAACP officials.[27]

In 1958, Stewart assisted Clara Luper, advisor to the local NAACP Youth Council,[28] in the organization of several sit-in protests against the segregation of lunch counters in Oklahoma, the first of which occurred on August 19 at Katz Drug in Oklahoma City.[29]

One of the most pressing issues Stewart helped to address was the housing crisis in Oklahoma City, where he helped with the Urban Renewal Authority's plans to renovate the dilapidated homes owned by poor blacks in Oklahoma City. The plans included over 3,000 buildings for repair and grants and low-interest loans, and Stewart worked to ensure the people affected by the plan were included in the discussions.[30]

Oklahomans for Progress

In the early 1960's, following the end of his presidency of the OKC Chapter of the NAACP and while still sitting on the National Board of the NAACP, Stewart founded a new organization called Oklahomans for Progress. The organization was intended to be a independent coordinator for issues of race in Oklahoma and was made up of leaders from black and white organizations.[31]

Death and Legacy

James Stewart died on April 13, 1997 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[15]

He was inducted into the Afro-American Hall of Fame in Oklahoma in 1983, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1986, and the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame in 1997. Despite his handicap of 18 and serving as an Oklahoma City Golf Commissioner, Stewart never considered himself mush of a golfer.[32] The James E. Stewart Golf course at 824 Frederick Douglass Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73117 is named for him, as is the soon to be constructed clubhouse.[5] The golf course is home to First Tee - Metropolitan Oklahoma City, a national organization whose mission is to "impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf."[33] The former James E. Stewart Training Center at 100 W 5 St., Oklahoma City, OK 73102 was named for him, as was the James E. Stewart Industrial Park at 1500 NE 4th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73117.[22] The American Association of Blacks in Energy's (AABE) annual award for meritorious service is named for Stewart.[34]

Awards

  • Service to Mankind Award from the Oklahoma City Downtown Sertoma Club (1975)[10]
  • Golden Plate Award from the NAACP (1976)[35]
  • Pathmaker Award from the Oklahoma County Historical Society (1994)[36]


See Also

Civil Rights Movement

NAACP

NAACP Youth Council

Martin Luther King Jr.

Thurgood Marshall

Separate but Equal

McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents

Notes

  1. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 84.
  2. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 13.
  3. ^ "Stewart, James Edward | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture". www.okhistory.org. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  4. ^ Ellison, Ralph (1986). Oklahoma Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (Speech). Oklahoma Hall of Fame Induction Banquet 1986. Oklahoma City.Oklahoma Hall of Fame
  5. ^ a b "Stewart, James Edward | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture". www.okhistory.org. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  6. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 26.
  7. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 53,55.
  8. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 36.
  9. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 42.
  10. ^ a b Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 194.
  11. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 196,199.
  12. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 200-202.
  13. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 40-41.
  14. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 39.
  15. ^ a b "City Civil Rights Leader Jimmy Stewart, 84, Dies". Oklahoman.com. 1997-04-15. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  16. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 53-54.
  17. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 56.
  18. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 191-192.
  19. ^ a b Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 46.
  20. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 57-58.
  21. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 157-165.
  22. ^ a b "State honors rights leader". Oklahoman.com. 2006-08-19. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  23. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 69.
  24. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 67-72.
  25. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 124-126.
  26. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 65.
  27. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 93-100.
  28. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 132.
  29. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 133-134.
  30. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 166-175.
  31. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 145.
  32. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 191.
  33. ^ "First Tee Network". First Tee - Metro Oklahoma City. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  34. ^ "AABE: AABE Awards". www.aabe.org. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  35. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 196.
  36. ^ Miles-Lagrange & Burke 1999, p. 211.

References

[1]

  1. ^ Miles-Lagrange, Vicki; Burke, Bob (1999). A Passion for Equality: The Life of Jimmy Stewart. Oklahoma Heritage Association.
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