Draft:Roger Phillipe Stewart
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Declined by Qcne 34 hours ago.
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Comment: Please also convert your citations to inline references by following the tutorial at WP:INTREFVE. qcne (talk) 18:24, 1 October 2026 (UTC)
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This draft is not written from a neutral point of view. Wikipedia articles must be written neutrally in a formal, impersonal, and dispassionate way. They should not read like a blog post, advertisement, or fan page. Rewrite the draft to remove:
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This draft has been resubmitted and is currently awaiting re-review. | |
This draft is not written from a neutral point of view. Wikipedia articles must be written neutrally in a formal, impersonal, and dispassionate way. They should not read like a blog post, advertisement, or fan page. Rewrite the draft to remove:
Declined by Qcne 34 hours ago.
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- Comment: Great magazine article, not an article yet for Wikipedia. We require dull-but-worthy well referenced prose reflecting only what is said about the subject in multiple independent reliable sourcesNot keen on bulleted paragraphs. Very keen on good fair prose.Does the subject pass WP:BIO? If so, carry on. If not, abandon the draft. 🇵🇸🇺🇦 FiddleTimtrent FaddleTalk to me 🇺🇦🇵🇸 17:59, 2 October 2026 (UTC)
- Comment: Please also convert your citations to inline references by following the tutorial at WP:INTREFVE. ==qcne== (talk) 18:24, 1 October 2026 (UTC)
Roger Phillipe Stewart | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1925/July/12 Seattle, Washington |
| Died | 2014/August/21 Plant City, Florida |
Burial place | Bushnell National Cemetery |
| Employer | Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County |
| Known for | Environmental Leadership |
| Title | Executive Director |
Roger Phillipe Stewart
Roger Phillipe Stewart (July 12, 1925-August 21, 2014) was an environmentalist from Tampa, Florida who served as the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County, Florida (EPC) from 1967 to 2000. He played a role in cleaning up Tampa Bay, regulating industrial air pollution, and establishing rigorous wetlands protections across the region. [1]
Early Life
Roger Phillipe Stewart was born July 12, 1925, in Seattle, Washington. He was raised on a farm in the New York, New Jersey area and joined the Army Air Corps at the age of 18. He spent 21 years as a military pilot, eventually retiring as an Air Force Major.[2][3]
Education
After his military career, he attended the University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa, earning a degree in Zoology.
Work Career
Shortly after graduating from USF, Stewart entered local government as a biologist for the Hillsborough County Health Department, where he built the area’s first comprehensive surface water quality sampling network encompassing all of Tampa Bay. In 1967, he was appointed Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County retiring from that position in 2000.
Environmental Legacy
· When Stewart took the helm of the EPC in 1967, Tampa Bay was suffering from nutrient pollution from several sources including municipal wastewater discharges. Stewart utilized local authority to enforce strict standards and was significantly responsible for the construction of an Advanced Wastewater Treatment system resulting in a marked improvement of Tampa Bay water quality.[4]
· Stewart worked with major corporate entities including fertilizer plants and utilities like Tampa Electric Company to reduce air and water pollution. [3]
· Stewart worked with citizen groups emphasizing public awareness to influence local politicians to enact modern wastewater infrastructure.
By 1974, Stewart’s enforcement of clean air and water standards had angered local developers and politicians who felt he was choking economic growth.
The tension boiled over when Stewart bypassed local authorities and invited CBS’s news program, "60 Minutes," to Tampa. On national television, interviewed by reporter Mike Wallace, he pointed out municipal wastewater flowing into Tampa Bay and told viewers that rapid commercial development was outpacing the county's ability to protect its own ecosystems.
This resulted in the Commission firing him for alleged insubordination later that year. [1][3]
Stewart sued the county to win his job back. His case was the first environmentally oriented legal proceeding involving the U.S. Department of Labor. Stewart won the lawsuit, which forced the county to reinstate him. In a follow-up segment, Mike Wallace asked him "Roger, why are you so stiff-necked? Why couldn't you compromise with them?" Stewart gave an answer that: "Somebody has to be the purist in the environmental business."
He went on to run the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) for another 26 years before retiring in 2000. [2]
Under Stewart's direction, the EPC maintained local environmental standards that were tailored to the needs of the local environment and often more stringent than state or federal laws. His enforcement power extended county wide including the cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City. He regularly stepped up to help neighboring communities, such as intervening to stop neighboring Pinellas County from dumping raw sewage near a local Girl Scout camp.
Recognition
Today, Stewart’s name is preserved through the Roger P. Stewart Center, an official multi-purpose county facility in Tampa that houses regional public service departments including the EPC.[5]
Upon his retirement, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) honored Stewart with the Environmental Merit Award. The EPA recognized his 30 years of service, highlighting his critical work in building the EPC into a premier, nationwide model for local environmental enforcement and creating vital partnerships between federal, state, and local governments.[6]
In 2009 the Hillsborough County League of Women Voters presented Stewart with the Sidney and Thalia Potter Civic Leadership Award. This honor celebrated his impact on the local community, recognizing him as a foundational figure in saving the Tampa Bay ecosystem from rapid industrial decay.[7]
In 1992 Florida Environments magazine officially profiled Stewart and hailed him as an environmental legend for his unwavering bravery in fighting polluters.
In 1992, the University of South Florida Foundation honored him with the USF Distinguished Alumnus Award. Having graduated from USF with his zoology degree in 1966 after serving as an Air Force Major, the university recognized his lifetime of scientific contributions to cleaning up Tampa Bay.[8]
In 2000, the Florida Senate passed Resolution 2744 commending Roger P. Stewart for 30 years of outstanding service with the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission.[9]
Roger Phillipe Stewart’s internment was with full military honors at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.
References
- 1 2 Stewart, Roger (September 21, 2014). "Obituary, Roger P Stewart". Tampabay.com.
- 1 2 Stewart, Roger (September 10, 2014). "ROGER STEWART; Congressional Record Vol. 160, No. 129". Congress.gov.
- 1 2 3 Danielson. 2 Ryan, Richard; 2 Patty (August 22, 2014). "Legendary Hillsborough environmental chief Roger Stewart dies at 89". Tampabay.com.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Garrity; 2 McCann; 3 Murdoch, Richard; 2 Nancy; 3 Joseph (1985). "Review of Environmental Impacts of Municipal Services in Tampa, Florida, Bay Area" (PDF). hillsborough.wateratlas.usf.edu.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Stewart, Roger (2014). "Roger P Stewart Memorial and Rededication Ceremony, Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County". YouTube.com.
- ↑ Stewart, Roger (October 19, 2000). "EPA Region 4 Honors Environmental Merit Award Recipients". epa.gov.
- ↑ Stewart, Roger (2009). "League of Women Voters of Hillsborough and Pasco Counties, Sydney and Thalia Potter Civic Leadership Honoree, 2009". hclwv.org.
- ↑ Stewart, Roger (2014). "Roger Stewart University of South Florida Distinguished Alumnus Award". usfslumni.org.
- ↑ Stewart, Roger (2000). "Florida Senate Resolution 2744 in 2000 commending Roger P. Stewart for 30 years of outstanding service with the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission". flsenate.gov.
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