South intramural head retires
by Jason Hollins, reporter

    Anyone who has participated in or been associated with the intramural sports program on South Campus since 1969 has met Paul Stewart.

    Intramural sports director for the South Campus for 30 years, Stewart recently retired, but left advice for his successor.

    “It's a great job with a lot of opportunities and great kids.

    “Tarrant County College is a great place to work with outstanding kids, so enjoy it and remember your end product is always your students,” he said.

    Stewart was born the oldest of five in Texarkana. His father quickly became the biggest influence on his life.

    “He was not educated, and all he knew was work. He taught us that we had to work hard for what we wanted,” he said.

    Stewart has dedicated his life to education. When he started college, business was his major.

    “I couldn't see myself sitting behind a desk all day, so I decided I wanted to teach elementary physical education,” he said.

    After graduating from East Texas State with a bachelor’s degree in science and a master’s degree in education, he headed for El Paso’s Coronado High School. In 1965 he returned home to Texarkana, where he worked as an assistant professor of physical education.

    “The incorporation of computers into the classroom is the biggest change I have seen in all the years I have been teaching,” he said.

    By 1967 Stewart had moved to TCC, where he says he saw the biggest change in students’ attitudes.

    “Between the late ’60s and early ’70s, you went from hippies to the unsettled times and the drugs,” he said.

    Intramural sports have also seen changes in types of athletes, Stewart said.

    “The athletes are much better today because of their opportunity to improve,” he said.

    Mini-camps and other events of that nature were not as available then as they are now.

    Stewart says he hopes to be able to travel during his retirement and spend more time with his family.

    “We always hear about the bad students. I was very fortunate to teach a lot of good students,” he said.