James Kent Stewart

James Kent Stewart, 66, of Reston, Va., formerly of Quincy, died at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 16, 2010) in Capitol Hospice in Arlington, Va.

Born Dec. 14, 1943, in Quincy, Jim was a son of Donald G. and Laverna Birrer Stewart. Jim married Linda Marsh on June 20, 1970, in Canton, Mass. She survives.

He attended Quincy Public Schools and was a 1962 graduate of Quincy High School where he was active in sports, band and student council. He was a member of the National Honor Society and the Society for Academic Achievement and was master councilor of DeMolay and received the Chevalier Degree.

Jim was a 1966 graduate of the University of Illinois with a bachelor of science degree in accounting and business. He was a James Scholar and on the Commerce Honors Program. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi social fraternity, Accounting Club, Student Senate, Delta Sigma Pi professional business administration fraternity, Student Bar Association and Sigma Iota Epsilon national honorary and professional fraternity in the field of management. Jim was also the starting second baseman for the U of I baseball team until a shoulder injury forced him from the sport.

Jim received his doctor of jurisprudence degree from William and Mary Marshall Wythe School of Law in Williamsburg, Va., in 1969. While there he received the Bobbs Merrill Publishing Award, the Moot Court Award and the William A.R. Goodwin Memorial Scholarship. He was a member of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity, research and notes editor of the Law Review and served on the editorial board of the Law Review. He studied law at the University of Exetor in Devon, England, in 1967.

Jim was admitted to the bar in 1969 in Virginia and 1973 in the District of Columbia and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Jim served for four years as a captain in the Army Judge Advocate General Corps. He served as courts martial defense council at Fort Benning, Ga., his first year and was chief of military justice and command judge advocate in Qui Nhon, Vietnam, his second year. During his Vietnam tour, he was exposed to Agent Orange and was awarded five medals, including the Bronze Star. The last two years Jim was with the Defense Appellate Division of the Judiciary in the Military Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C.

After his military service, Jim practiced law in Washington, D.C., and was a partner in a Georgetown law firm. In 1989, along with two other partners, Jim opened a law firm of Green, Stewart & Farber with offices in the Watergate building in Washington, D.C. Jim served as senior partner, specializing in government contracts and construction litigation. In 2000, the firm merged with one of the largest law firms in the world, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld.

Jim served on the executive board of the College of William & Mary and was a member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, the District of Columbia Bar, Virginia State Bar, Federal and American Bar Associations (Litigation Section) and the J.A.G.C., U.S. Army, 1969-1973.

Jim was baptized and confirmed in Salem Evangelical United Church of Christ in Quincy and maintained his membership there until moving to Virginia. He was also a life member of the Good Samaritan Home Association.

Survivors, in addition to his wife, include his daughter, Tracy Stewart and her husband, Kevin Toop, and a 1-year old granddaugher, Caitlin Toop, all of Reston, Va.; his mother, Laverna Stewart of Quincy; and his sister, Sue Stewart, of Chesterfield, Mo.

Mr. Stewart was preceded in death by his father, Donald G. Stewart; grandparents, Edward M. and Ruby R. Stewart and Chester E. and Lillian M. Birrer; and his uncle and aunt, Ed and Catherine Stewart.

SERVICES: Private memorial services were held Nov. 22 in Greenmount Cemetery by the Rev. Wanda Seydel. Cremation rites were accorded.

MEMORIALS: Diabetes Association or Salem Church in care of the Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home, 1435 State St., Quincy, IL 62301

ARRANGEMENTS: Zehender Robinson Stormer Cookson Funeral Home.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.whig.com.