William Stewart, Class of 1971 is being inducted into the Hall of Fame for his academics and many years of extensive community service and volunteerism.

Bill was salutatorian of his class, and was in Honor Society for all three years. His academic achievements are numerous. He won the D.A.R. Award for Excellence in History, the Biology Award, the Spanish Award, had poetry published, was the representative to the American Legion Boys State conference, State Assemblyman at Boys State, was in Who's Who Among American High School Students, won the American Newspaper Publishers Association Most Valuable Staffer Award, and was representative to the Capital Newspaper Journalism Conference and the N.Y.S. Conference on Children and Youth. Bill was extremely involved in extracurricular activities including: Key Club, Dramatics Club, Student Council and Advisor to the Board of Education, "Ram Blurr" Staff, Varsity Club, Freshman Reception Committee Emcee in his senior year, and Yearbook Business Manager. Even with all of these activities, Bill still found time for athletics and was a member of the Varsity Cross Country Team and Track, Varsity Basketball Manager, Cross-Country and Baseball Manager.

Post high school, Bill earned his BA in Political Science from Siena College in 1975, and his MBA from SUNY Albany in 1977. His career was made in banking, rising to Vice President and Manager of Corporate Communications for KeyCorp. When the corporation moved to Cleveland, Bill left and took a job with Excelsior College, building a second career in higher education for 20 yrs, retiring recently as Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement.

While his family and career were growing, Bill became a vestry member and warden of the Church of the Redeemer in Rensselaer, and later, treasurer of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany. He was chairman of the Cable Television Commission for the city of Rensselaer, and later for the Town of North Greenbush. He was also Chairman of the Highway Specifications Committee there, as well as a member of the Youth Commission, the Public Safety Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals. His community service has also included being a member of the Board of Trustees for the Doane Stuart School, the Capital Chamber Foundation of the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce and in 2003-4 was a member of the N.Y. Secretary of State's Fire and Life Safety Task Force.

Bill's current volunteer service is with the Defreestville Fire Department where he has been a life member for 22 years, and served in various capacities. He also attained his certification as an E.M.T. and Emergency Vehicle Operator. He sits on the town's Public Safety Committee and Emergency Services Radio Communications Committee for Rensselaer County.

Bill was nominated by his former classmate and co-worker, Sharon Craft DeMartini. He lives with his wife Nancy in Defreestville where they raised their two daughters. In their leisure time they love working on their camp upstate.

Sharon Demartini '71 presents William Stewart with is award.