FORT SMITH—Jerry Stewart, MD, described working as a "soda jerk" at Bush Drugstore in downtown Benton, Ark., during the early 1950s "a great laboratory on life experiences."

 

"A personal observation of community business men and women," he said, taught him that "chances of success in life were increased by education (formal or seasoned experience), objective analysis (detached from emotional subjective efforts), tenacity, work and effort."

 

Stewart was behind the counter at the pharmacy every weekday morning from 7 a.m. until the school bell rang. From 11:30 a.m. until 12:45 p.m., he covered the lunch rush. After school, he worked until 6 p.m. Time spent at Bush's allowed him to become acquainted with most of the community's physicians, dentists and pharmacists.

 

"I discussed with them what healthcare opportunities were available, what their experiences in making a decision were, and were they satisfied with their decisions," he said, of exploring career options. "I never received a negative comment or regret about their decision. I was hooked by the time I started college."

 

Born in Saline County, Stewart was one of two children born to Edward, a welder and automotive body repairman who was elected Saline County Tax Assessor in 1954 and subsequently served as county treasurer and county judge before retiring from the Arkansas State Assessment Coordination Department. Stewart's mother, Inez Bond, was originally from Gilmer, Texas. 

 

"My family was always involved in church and religious activities," he recalled. "My parents taught me that religion was living what you learned on Sunday during the remaining days of the week."

 

After graduating from Benton High School, Stewart headed to Ouachita Baptist University in nearby Arkadelphia. When he was a freshman, he set his sights on a job as a laboratory assistant, knowing the $80 monthly stipend and experience would benefit him.

 

"The lab assistant's position was typically for sophomores seeking a major in chemistry," he explained. "I asked the professor (chairman of the department and teacher of the freshman course), 'what could I do to be considered for the job as a freshman?' His response was 'score well on the semester final examination.' I scored 100 percent on the examination and was hired as a lab assistant in the second semester of the freshman year."

 

After earning a chemistry degree, Stewart completed postgraduate work in chemistry at Baylor University via a National Defense Scholarship. He earned a medical degree from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in 1964.

 

"The decision on specialty and sub-specialty was made in medical school and my intern year," said Stewart, who interned at the University of Tennessee's City of Memphis Hospital. "I was influenced by the internal medicine staff in my junior and senior year in medical school to pursue internal medicine, and by the Pulmonary Medicine Department as an intern."

 

Stewart served in the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, Ga., from 1968 to 1970, mostly as chief of the Department of Clinics at Martin Army Hospital, and completed fellowships via the American College of Physicians and the American College of Chest Physicians.

 

From 1970 to 2004, Stewart, board-certified in internal medicine, practiced at Cooper Clinic in Fort Smith, serving as CEO for the last decade there. A staunch supporter of the community, he was elected to serve two terms on the Fort Smith Public School Board of Education, served in various posts for the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Fort Smith. An involved member of the Fort Smith Community Bible Church, he was a two-term board member for the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, and chaired the Fort Chaffee Public Trust and the Fort Smith Regional Airport Commission.

 

Professionally, Stewart has served as medical director of the Area Agency on Aging Hospice, and as an adjunct faculty instructor in pathophysiology at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith School of Nursing. He was selected for dozens of medical appointments.

 

After being presented the Army Commendation Medal in 1970, Stewart was recognized with several other prestigious awards, including the DOC Resident Appreciation Award from the family practice residents of the Area Health Education Center in Fort Smith in 1980; Certificate of Appreciation for the treatment of tuberculosis in the Cuban refugees in 1982; Tom T. Ross Public Health Award from the Arkansas State Department of Health in 1986; Sam Walton Business Leadership Award from the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce in 1994; and The Robert Shields Abernathy Award for Excellence in Internal Medicine from the Arkansas chapter of the American College of Physicians in 2003.

 

Stewart said working at Bush's set the stage for his long and prosperous career.

 

"Dr. Earnest Bush, an optometrist and owner of the drugstore, and Mrs. Edith Doris (Dr. Bush's sister-in law, the fountain manager) helped me appreciate the value of personal responsibility, honesty and never giving less than your best effort in any job," he explained. They would say, "Keep a smile on your face and make your customers feel that you valued and appreciated their presence in your establishment."