Posted: 6/2/05
Mounds View honors Milaca grad Stewart
By GARY LARSON
Mille Lacs County Times
Mounds View High School officially named its new track and field facility the Bob Stewart Track May 3 during the school’s Light Brigade Invitational.
The day was another memorable one for Stewart, a 1954 graduate of Milaca High School and longtime coach at Mounds View.
“Having your name on such a fine facility is quite an honor,” said Stewart. “It was a very special day for me and my family. And, for all the great kids I’ve coached that have made our program so successful.
“One of my friends said that you usually have to be deceased to get an honor like this but I said I’d pass on that. I like this way better.”
Last week, Stewart reflected on his years at Milaca and Mounds View. He’s married to Joanne (Sahlstrom) and his younger brother is Dick Stewart of Milaca.
“Growing up in Milaca was great,” Stewart said. “I liked school and I really enjoyed sports.”
He played football for coach Herb Claffy and later competed in baseball and track for Claffy. Baseball was No. 1 but Stewart competed in track whenever he could, concentrating on the discus.
“Herb was a great coach and a great inspiration for me and the other players on the teams he coached,” said Stewart. “He got me to believe in myself....that I could accomplish things. He was always positive and I’ve tried to be that way in my coaching career.”
Stewart then went to St. Cloud State College where he played quarterback in football before suffering a severe concussion his sophomore year. That injury ended his playing career but the coaching staff at St. Cloud then assigned him to coach the freshman team for two years.
“That was a great experience and I’m very grateful that they let me do that,” said Stewart.
After graduating from St. Cloud State, Stewart took a teaching position at Mounds View. He taught world history and later physical education at the school for 35 years, retiring in 1993.
He also coached at the school for 46 years, retiring last year.
His coaching for the Mustangs included 13 years as headboys cross country coach and 43 years as a coach in the track and field program. He was head boys track coach from 1963-1985. He was an assistant track coach at Hamline University in St. Paul for three years, then returned as an assistant track coach at Mounds View for 17 more years.
His Mounds View track teams won 10 conference titles, six section championships and placed second at the state meet once. He coached four individual state champions and five state champion relay teams.
His cross country team placed fifth at the state meet in 1964 and fourth in 1965.
“We’ve had some great athletes at Mounds View and our numbers have always been good,” said Stewart. “We get a lot of kids out for track and we try to find an event for each one of them.
“We help each student set a goal and show them the best way to reach it. We want everyone to feel they’re part of the team. We have a great strength program and that’s been a tremendous help.”
Stewart was named Minnesota Track Coach of the Year in 1972 and was Mounds View’s Teacher of the Year in 1982. He’s a member of the Minnesota Track Coaches Hall of Fame and the Mounds View Athletics Hall of Fame.
He was also named Minnesota Assistant Coach of the Year for football and track in 1998. He was an assistant football coach at Mounds View for 33 years.
“The honors have been very nice,” he said. “But, the big reward is seeing kids improve and give their best.”
Stewart said his biggest thrills include seeing his son Mark set a state tournament record in the triple jump in 1985 and his team win its first conference track title in 1967.
Mark graduated from Mounds View in 1985 and his other son, Paul, graduated in 1983. Both were captains on the track team.
The May 3 ceremony was attended by several of Stewart’s former track captains. And, the current Mustang team formed two lines and had him walk through, shaking their hands. The 4x400 relay was designated the Bob Stewart Relay and will retain that name at future Light Brigade meets.
“I’ve been very fortunate,” said Stewart. “I have a wonderful wife, who’s been very understanding, a great family, great friends and associates and I’ve had wonderful kids at Mounds View to work with.”