This December, four Pierce County nonprofits, Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, Palmer Scholars, Tacoma-Pierce Athletic Commission, and United Way of Pierce County, are coming together to honor a living legend and community cornerstone: Willie C. Stewart Sr. The campaign, titled “90 Time & Treasure for Willie Stewart”, invites the community to be a part of his legacy by donating $90 or 90 minutes of service this December.
Born in Columbus, Texas, in 1935, the tenth of eleven children, Willie Stewart overcame the harsh legacies of segregation and sharecropping to become a beacon of possibility for generations of young people in Tacoma.
After earning a degree from Texas Southern University, Stewart served in the U.S. Army and later joined Tacoma Public Schools in 1960. He began as the first Black male teacher at Gault Junior High, advanced to assistant principal, and in 1970 shattered a racial barrier, becoming the first African American principal in Tacoma’s history when appointed to Lincoln High School.
Over a 36-year career with Tacoma Public Schools, followed by six years as school board member, Stewart helped reshape education for countless students. In 2015, the district honored him by designating its Re-Engagement Center as the Willie Stewart Academy, a lasting tribute to Stewart’s belief that every child deserves a chance to succeed.
But Willie’s influence did not end at school doors. As a veteran Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, long-time volunteer, mentor, and civic leader, he has devoted over five decades to building bridges across communities.
In 2019, he was honored as the recipient of the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize, recognition of his lifelong commitment to peace, understanding, and racial reconciliation in Tacoma.
Today, wherever his name is spoken, in classrooms, athletic fields, community halls, or among young people striving for hope, people light up.
This December, in celebration of Willie’s 90th birthday, Boys & Girls Clubs, Palmer Scholars, Tacoma-Pierce Athletic Commission, and United Way of Pierce County are uniting under the “90 Time & Treasure” campaign, a unique, community-led initiative that honors Willie’s
lifelong commitment to service and youth.
Close friend Teri Moore, who also developed the “90 Time & Treasure” campaign, asked Willie why he didn’t travel. He explained that he chose to spend his vacation dollars supporting his community.
The first 100 gifts of $90 to each of the four organizations will be matched by the Ben B. Cheney Foundation and the Woodworth Family Foundation, helping create even greater opportunity for youth programs and community services across the region. For more information contact – Boys and Girls Club South Puget Sound Home