Phil Stewart

Phil Stewart attended Fayetteville High School and graduated in 1961. His love for his alma mater continued throughout his life. He attended all sporting events while his children were in high school at FHS and continued this dedication until his death in 2013. Phil was a man of many talents. He could be seen cooking hamburgers at football games or up in the press box helping with spotting and assisting the PA announcer. He might be seen working the concession stands at basketball games and was a frequent spectator at FHS baseball games.

Phil had a gift for knowing when an athlete needed shoes, food, a ride, a suit for the prom
or just a pat on the back. If Phil knew that a student needed something, he was right there,
ready to help. He would help the student who cleaned the gym floor or who was the star of
the team. He had a heart that encompassed the entire FHS athletic family. Phil was well known by the coaches as well as the students at FHS. When a student would see Phil on the sidelines, you could see a huge smile on that student’s face. They knew that Phil loved all athletes from FHS. His dedication to FHS athletes did not stop with high school; Phil would follow their careers as they played in college and in the pros. He was so proud of the accomplishments that any athlete achieved.

Phil was an organizer and was very involved in implementing the Holiday Hoops Basketball Tournament. He spent endless hours volunteering his time just because he loved kids and loved seeing them excel. Phil was instrumental in helping to get the Arkansas Coaching Clinics and All-Star games in Fayetteville. He played a major role in getting the Saturday of Champions in Fayetteville. You could always see Phil attending meetings, cooking, asking merchants for contributions, or picking up trash at Baum stadium. There was nothing that Phil would not do for the betterment of a program and always with a smile on his face. Phil never wanted to receive credit for what he did, but it can safely be said that all of Phil’s contributions to FHS athletics definitely made a major impact on the success of the program.

Phil was a funny, loving man to everyone and true inspiration to the FHS community. His love for his alma mater and its students will live on in the players that were lucky enough to know him, because of what he instilled in the lives that he touched.