A 1972 Kelso graduate, Stewart attended Southern Methodist University where he graduated with a degree in history in 1977. There, Stewart he set the school's 3-mile record. Stewart taught U.S. History and served as a guidance counselor for 30 years. He also coached cross country and track at Kelso, where his teams claimed 39 league championships (20 girls titles, 19 boys crowns), 34 district titles (18 girls, 16 boys), and 42 state meet appearances (22 girls, 20 boys) which had a combined 24 top-10 finishes. Cross-country teams under Stewart's tutelage had a dual-meet record of 339-15. Stewart was also responsible for guiding 57 student-athletes into college running programs.
Joe spent decades shaping young lives in Kelso, first as a teacher and coach at Coweeman Junior High and later at Kelso High School, where he and his lifelong coaching partner Rick Ames built one of the region's most successful track and cross country programs. But Joe himself was most proud of his work in the classroom and as a school counselor, where his genuine care for students made him a beloved figure to generations of Kelso youth. He had a rare ability to connect with kids, ensuring they were not only supported through personal challenges but also steered toward the right academic path. That legacy lives on through the Joe Stewart Memorial Scholarship, which continues to support Kelso students to this day.
