REMEMBERING TOM STEWART
News reports indicate that Tom Stewart, head of Food Services of America and former Vashon resident, was killed today in a helicopter crash near Scottsdale. I knew Tom, he was a good man and friend. He sponsored the annual GOP picnic at his Vashon ranch for several years, at his expense. It was always a great event, and one year, the year John Carlson and I co-MCed it, it drew 13,000 people. Tom financed the event every year. He moved to Arizona after the Legislature reinstituted the state inheritence tax and, he was also tired of being used by local politicians who always asked him for money but never seemed to be around when he could use their help. It’s men like Tom that built America, the vital few whose success fuels the rest of the economy. He will be sorely missed. May God bless and comfort his friends and family.
11 Responses to “REMEMBERING TOM STEWART”
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Rob Millard says:
I join with you in mourning the loss of Tom Stewart. He was a man who stood by his priciples and fought for what he thought was right. I pray for his family to be comforted in their time of need.
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Mr. Stewart, unfortunately, met his fate as many great and innovative Washingtonians do: by perishing out of state. May the Lord be with his family and with the wise stewardship of FSA’s management and their unique labor relations.
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John says:
I knew Tom as on of the officers in his insurance company, Eagle. Tom was a man who never ran from a fight but who also knew that there was strength in unity. Unfortunately, the politicians in this state care only about power and the back room deals they make. That is why we ALL must “throw the bums out”!
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DakotaKid says:
I made one of Tom’s Vashon Island events. He even bused us to and from the ferry dock. What a great guy who took a lot of flak from the looney liberals.
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Tyler Woods says:
I met Tom on two occasions at the Republican picnic at his Vashon Ranch. He was a sincere man who cared about people. His passing will be greatly missed and we will be praying for his family during this time of loss. Tyler Woods, Texas
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JD says:
A true patroit!
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Lincoln says:
Having worked for Tom Stewart, I can say unequivocally that he was a man of his beliefs and a man who believed the world could be changed for the better. That is why he invested in our electoral system. He genuinely believed that Seattle would be better governed if its city council members were elected from districts and he genuinely believed that Republican leadership would change the culture of earmarks and deficit spending in DC. The vehemence with which he was denounced by his critics and prosecuted beyond all proportion to his campaign finance transgressions was in large part because he stuck his head up. He made himself visible after decades of operating SGA in virtual obscurity because he believed that corporate leaders should have the courage of their convictions. He didn’t just want to lobby behind closed doors in DC and Olympia – he wanted to encourage conservatives to get out and vote, work for candidates they agreed with and to speak up. That is why he never flinched about hosting the GOP picnics at his own expense. That is why he hoped that his contributions to the Republican party would prompt other corporations to stop giving to whomever was in power and instead give to those who would support freedom and free enterprise.
He’ll be missed.
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Ken Mortland says:
Sad news indeed. Too few do more than complain. We need those who act on their beliefs.
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Tricia Richards says:
We knew Tom as well. He was extremely generous and not many know it, but his company donated much to our community colleges. He was a very gracious man and we were sorry to see him leave Seattle, and am now sorry to hear of his passing. May his family be blessed with the abundance of prayers being offered today in Tom’s name.
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Betty Holland says:
What are you up to now? You said you’d inform us about your new job prospects. Please let us know about your new options.
Sincerely,
Betty Holland
Condolences to his family, friends and loved ones.
I remember the event he put on at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. How festive, how happy and how so many people of all stripes showed up.
I never look at a Food Services of America truck without thinking of Mr. Stewart’s love for people and love for country.