On Saturday, November 11, 2023, from 11:00 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST, the Dr. Edna B. McKenzie branch of ASALH “Honors Our Veterans” with an exciting and informative presentation moderated by Richard A. Stewart, Jr.
About Richard A. Stewart, Jr. (aka Stew)
Stew’s professional career included 30 plus years in law enforcement which began as an 8th grade safety patrolman in 1963, at St. Richard’s Catholic School. Richard served in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) (1966 – 1973). This included a tour in DaNang, South Vietnam (1968 – 1969) and 1970, the Military Police.
Upon being Honorably Discharged, Stew served 1 year working as an Allegheny County Jail Corrections Officer. In 1977, he joined the City of Pittsburgh Police Department where he worked for 1 ½ years. Richard, then, transferred to The Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department, where he worked from August, 1978, through September, 2005. Upon retirement in 2005, as a Deputy Commander, he was the highest ranking African American in the Sheriff Department’s 200 year history.
Stew’s educational journey took 30 years, (1975 – 2005), to complete. On May 10, 2004, Richard received his Associate in Science, Administration of Criminal Justice Degree from The Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) (Boyce Campus). His Bachelor of Science, Law Enforcement Degree on December 17, 2005, was obtained from Point Park University.
Richard’s community involvement includes more than 30 years with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) as the current PA State Conference Western Sectional Director; President, former 1st Vice President, former Criminal Justice Committee Chairman, and former Membership Chairman of the Pittsburgh Branch; The PA State Conference NAACP Audit Committee Chairman, Executive Committee Member, and Vice Chairman Criminal Justice Committee. Richard is, also, a founding member of The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) Pittsburgh Chapter, former Vice President and the former treasurer. He was a former United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots program manager in Pittsburgh from 1986 to 1996. On April 30, 1999, Richard was a Chapel of Four Chaplains Recipient. Stew was a 2014- 2015 Jefferson Award Recipient, and has been a Freedom Unlimited Board Member for 20 plus years. Richard is, currently, a 2019 FBI Citizen’s Academy Graduate Alumni.
DR. EDNA B. MCKENZIE BRANCH OF ASALH 