Lou Stewart
Encyclopedia
Lou O. Stewart was a prominent labor
leader in Washington. Stewart grew up in logging camps
and attended 23 different grade schools. Following service in the Army Air Corps
during World War II
, he was awarded his diploma from Weatherwax High School in Aberdeen, Washington
. A journeyman
carpenter
before and after the war, Stewart entered the University of Washington
on the GI Bill in 1950, earning a degree in Industrial Sociology
. While attending graduate school, he went to work for Seattle city government, helping to develop the first civil service
system in Washington State. In 1960, he helped the territorial government of Guam
develop its civil service system.
Stewart joined the staff of the Washington State Labor Council
in 1967, and worked there until his retirement in 1982. During that time, Stewart was the Labor Council's chief state lobbyist in Olympia
. A lifelong Democrat, he was a delegate to the 1972 national convention. Throughout his career and following retirement, he served on a number of boards and commissions, including the national Public Broadcasting Commission
, KCPQ
Channel 13, Group Health Cooperative
, and the state's Centennial and Marine Employees Commissions.
Upon Stewart's death in 2002, then-State Labor Council President Rick Bender said, "There was no major issue facing the State Legislature in the '70s and '80s that didn't have Lou Stewart's involvement, and he was known on both sides of the aisle for absolute honesty and integrity."
in 1979. In November 2003, she was elected to the Seattle School District Board of Directors, District VI, which includes the West Seattle and South Park
neighborhoods of Seattle. Stewart left the Board in 2007. She is currently employed as director of the Seattle Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leader in Washington. Stewart grew up in logging camps
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
and attended 23 different grade schools. Following service in the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was awarded his diploma from Weatherwax High School in Aberdeen, Washington
Aberdeen, Washington
Aberdeen is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States, founded by Samuel Benn in 1884. Aberdeen was incorporated on May 12, 1890. The city is the economic center of Grays Harbor County, bordering the cities of Hoquiam and Cosmopolis...
. A journeyman
Journeyman
A journeyman is someone who completed an apprenticeship and was fully educated in a trade or craft, but not yet a master. To become a master, a journeyman had to submit a master work piece to a guild for evaluation and be admitted to the guild as a master....
carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
before and after the war, Stewart entered the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
on the GI Bill in 1950, earning a degree in Industrial Sociology
Industrial sociology
Industrial sociology, until recently a crucial research area within the field of sociology of work, examines "the direction and implications of trends in technological change, globalization, labour markets, work organization, managerial practices and employment relations to the extent to which...
. While attending graduate school, he went to work for Seattle city government, helping to develop the first civil service
Civil service
The term civil service has two distinct meanings:* A branch of governmental service in which individuals are employed on the basis of professional merit as proven by competitive examinations....
system in Washington State. In 1960, he helped the territorial government of Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
develop its civil service system.
Stewart joined the staff of the Washington State Labor Council
Washington State Labor Council
The Washington State Labor Council is the Washington branch of the AFL-CIO. It represents all AFL-CIO affiliates in state politics, and is major interest group, particularly for Democratic politicians. The organization was split when several national unions broke from the AFL-CIO and formed the...
in 1967, and worked there until his retirement in 1982. During that time, Stewart was the Labor Council's chief state lobbyist in Olympia
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
. A lifelong Democrat, he was a delegate to the 1972 national convention. Throughout his career and following retirement, he served on a number of boards and commissions, including the national Public Broadcasting Commission
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
, KCPQ
KCPQ
KCPQ, channel 13, is the Fox television affiliate licensed to Tacoma, Washington serving the Seattle/Tacoma television market, owned by the Tribune Company...
Channel 13, Group Health Cooperative
Group Health Cooperative
Group Health Cooperative, more commonly known as Group Health, is a Seattle, Washington based nonprofit healthcare organization. Established in 1947, it today provides coverage and care for about 700,000 people in Washington and Idaho and is one of the largest private employers in Washington...
, and the state's Centennial and Marine Employees Commissions.
Upon Stewart's death in 2002, then-State Labor Council President Rick Bender said, "There was no major issue facing the State Legislature in the '70s and '80s that didn't have Lou Stewart's involvement, and he was known on both sides of the aisle for absolute honesty and integrity."
Irene Stewart
Stewart's daughter, Irene, was born November 29, 1957, in Seattle, and raised in Olympia. She graduated from William Winlock Miller High School in 1975 and the University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in 1979. In November 2003, she was elected to the Seattle School District Board of Directors, District VI, which includes the West Seattle and South Park
South Park, Seattle, Washington
South Park is a neighborhood in the city of Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located just south of Georgetown across the Duwamish River, and just north of the city of Tukwila. Its main thoroughfares are West Marginal Way S. , S. Cloverdale Street and 14th Ave. S...
neighborhoods of Seattle. Stewart left the Board in 2007. She is currently employed as director of the Seattle Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens.