Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 28, 1995 TAG: 9501300025
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The supervisor from Elliston, serving his fourth four-year term, smiled when asked how it felt to be the oldest of a board with an average age of 59.
"I'd rather be the youngest," he joked.
Sorry, Christiansburg's Nick Rush holds that distinction. He's a mere 26.
The white-haired Stewart lives on a beef-cattle farm and owns thousands of acres in Montgomery and Floyd counties. He also owns and runs the Christiansburg Livestock Market, where he can be seen in action most Thursdays.
Stewart said he doesn't have any special plans for Sunday, but celebrated with friends on Thursday. "We did have a little birthday party at the market, cookies and some eats and drinks," he said.
A widower, Stewart has two grown daughters who live in the county, Julia Stewart Milton of Shawsville and Sandra Stewart Weddle of Elliston. His grandson, Jamie Weddle, runs much of the day-to-day operation of his farms.
Stewart narrowly won re-election in 1993 for District C, which covers the southeast quarter of Montgomery, including Elliston, Lafayette, Alleghany Springs and Shawsville. He's an opponent of all tax increases, most spending increases and is suspicious of government in general. When he votes against a resolution - which occurs with some frequency - he likes to issue a loud, resounding "No!"
For Stewart, the old saying that with age comes wisdom is on target. "It helps."
The Virginia Association of Counties couldn't say if Stewart was the oldest supervisor in the commonwealth. A spokeswoman said she didn't know of anyone who tracked such things.
But in the New River Valley at least, Stewart would have to serve another term to match one octogenarian's political longevity. Former Pearisburg Mayor Clarence Taylor retired last year at age 84, after serving 47 years in office.
On the Montgomery board, Stewart is in good company when it comes to autumn-years status.
Exempting Rush and 41-year-old Chairman Larry Linkous, the other board members weigh in at the upper end: Ira Long, 73; Jim Moore, 69; Joe Gorman, 65; and Henry Jablonski, 59.
Jablonski seemed particularly sensitive. "I never add the year on unless I have to," he quipped. "You've got to delay this all you can."
He tried to put Stewart's longevity in historical perspective. Look at Ronald Reagan, he suggested, who served as president from age 69 to 77.
"You might put in there what Ben Franklin did after he was 60 or so," Jablonski offered.
For the record, the Founding Father from Philadelphia helped draft the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, served as the first postmaster general, negotiated France's critical support for the revolution as minister there and signed the treaty to end the Revolutionary War.
by CNB