Bennett Stewart
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Bennett Stewart | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 1st district | |
In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981 | |
Preceded by | Ralph Metcalfe |
Succeeded by | Harold Washington |
Personal details | |
Born | August 6, 1912 Huntsville, Alabama |
Died | April 26, 1988 Chicago, Illinois | (aged 75)
Political party | Democratic |
Bennett McVey Stewart (August 6, 1912 – April 26, 1988) was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Illinois.
Stewart was born in Huntsville, Alabama, and baptized at Meridianville PB Church. He attended the public schools in Huntsville and Birmingham. He received a B.A. from Miles College in Birmingham in 1936. He worked as the assistant principal of Irondale High School in 1936. He was an associate professor of sociology at Miles College in 1938. He worked as an insurance executive in 1940, and as the Illinois director for an insurance company in 1950. He served as an inspector of the Chicago Building Department in 1968. He was a rehabilitation specialist for the Chicago Department of Urban Renewal in 1968. He was elected to the Chicago City Council as 21st Ward alderman in 1971, and was elected Democratic ward committeeman of the 21st Ward in 1972. He was reelected alderman in 1975 and reelected as ward committeeman in 1976. He was a delegate to the Illinois State Democratic conventions from 1971 to 1978. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1972 and 1976.
Stewart was elected as a Democrat to the 96th Congress. He failed in his bid for renomination in 1980; Harold Washington, the primary's winner, also won in the general election. Stewart then served as administrative assistant to Mayor Jane Byrne in Chicago from 1981 to 1983. He was a resident of Chicago until his death there at age 75.
Stewart was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He was survived by his wife, two sons, Bennett Jr., and Ronald, a daughter, Miriam Stewart Early, and four grandchildren.
See also
References
- United States Congress. "Bennett Stewart (id: S000902)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- 1912 births
- 1988 deaths
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois
- African-American members of the United States House of Representatives
- African-American people in Illinois politics
- Chicago City Council members
- Politicians from Huntsville, Alabama
- Miles College alumni
- Illinois Democrats
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- 20th-century American politicians