| Donald Wilbur Stewart | |
|---|---|
| United States Senator from Alabama |
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| In office November 7, 1978 – January 2, 1981 |
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| Preceded by | Maryon Pittman Allen |
| Succeeded by | Jeremiah Denton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 8, 1940 Anniston, Alabama |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Alabama |
Donald Wilbur Stewart (born February 8, 1940) is a former Democratic United States Senator from the state of Alabama.[1]
Stewart was born in Anniston, the seat of Calhoun County, and attended the University of Alabama both in undergraduate and in law school. During his years in law school, he ran a successful campaign for SGA president, one of the few to have beaten the Machine. He served in the United States Army. Stewart was an United States Magistrate. Stewart then served in the Alabama House of Representatives in 1970-1974 and in the Alabama State Senate 1974-1978.
He was elected as a Democrat to fill the unexpired U.S. Senate term of James B. Allen, who died in office, and whose seat was held in the interim by Maryon Pittman Allen. Stewart defeated Mrs. Allen in the primary and the Republican nominee, former Congressman James Douglas Martin, in the general election. He served in the Senate from November 8, 1978, to his resignation on January 2, 1981, one day before his term was to end. He lost his bid for reelection in 1980, when he was defeated in the Democratic primary by Governor Jim Folsom, Jr. Folsom in turn was defeated by Republican Jeremiah Denton, a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
One of the key reasons for his defeat in his run for re-election was the support of his opponents by the wealthy Hunt family of Texas. Herbert and Bunker Hunt, the sons of Texas oilman H. L. Hunt, had a personal animosity towards Stewart for his role in the Senate hearings concerning the Hunts' alleged "cornering" of the silver markets in the late 1970s.
He presently practices law in Alabama, including as lead attorney on a recent class action lawsuit against agricultural biotech giant Monsanto Company for PCB dumping in his hometown of Anniston. The case garnered national attention, including coverage by 60 Minutes. As of 2002, the company had paid out as much as $160 million against various plaintiffs in Alabama, including those represented by Stewart.
He also serves on the advisory board of the Blackburn Institute,[2] to which he has reportedly contributed significant funds.
| United States Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Maryon Pittman Allen |
United States Senator (Class 3) from Alabama 1978 – 1981 Served alongside: John J. Sparkman, Howell T. Heflin |
Succeeded by Jeremiah Denton |
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