BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRICAN AMERICAN " BENNETT M. STEWART " WAS A DEMOCRATIC U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM ILLINOIS : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK GENIUS "

        BLACK     SOCIAL    HISTORY                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Bennett M. Stewart

BLACK                SOCIAL                HISTORY

Bennett M. Stewart
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 (aged 75) Chicago, Illinois
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, one of the many churches founded by members of the Conley Family. He attended the public schools in Huntsville and Birmingham. He received as 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 ofsociology 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 Ninety-sixth Congress. He failed in his bid for renomination in 1980; Harold Washington, the primary's winner, also won in the general election . He served as administrative assistant to Mayor Jane Byrne of 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. Mr. Stewart was survived by his wife; two sons, Bennett Jr., and Ronald; a daughter, Miriam Stewart Early; four grandchildren.