Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate one of Tampa’s finest civic leaders Attorney Carolyn House Stewart. During this Black History Month, we honor her timeless dedication and almost 50 year record of honorable service to our community. 

A Tampa native, Attorney Stewart graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Social Science Education. She continued along the road to academic success and began her impressive 39-year legal career graduating with a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Attorney Stewart became the first African-American partner at Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen, one of Florida’s oldest law firms.

Throughout her career she made significant contributions to the issues of social justice and human rights, health, global poverty, economic security, education, and environmental stewardship. She served as a member of the Florida Board of Bar Examiners for five years and practiced before the US District Courts for the Middle and Southern District of Florida, as well as the US Court of Appeals for the 11th and 5th Circuits. Attorney Stewart currently serves as the CEO of Stewart Consulting Group, Inc. and is licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

Attorney Stewart is a renowned member of the prestigious Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., (AKAs), where she served as an example of their motto, “By Culture and By Merit”. The AKAs are well-known for their life-long personal and professional development of each of its members and Attorney Stewart ascended to various leadership positions, including the 28^th International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Chapter President, Cluster Coordinator of the South Atlantic Region, Chairman of the International Program Committee, International Secretary, and International First Vice President. Under her leadership, AKAs have volunteered over 6 million hours of service and impacted the lives of 26 million people in communities all over the globe. She was instrumental with the AKAs Emerging Young Leaders (EYL) Program that worked with over 15 thousand middle school-aged girls to develop the “skills and talents necessary to become leaders at their respective school, within their local communities, and other venues.” For her dedication to the AKAs, she has received commendations, including the Carey B. Preston International Leadership Award, Margaret Davis Bowen Award, and Soror of the Year.

Attorney Stewart has been recognized for her exceptional commitment to service through various other awards including the 2006 Florida Commission on the Status of Women “Achievement Award,” the National Bar Association Presidential Award, and one of the National Bar Association’s highest honors, the Gertrude E. Rush Award. In 2013, she was presented the Sadie T. M. Alexander Award from the National Association of Black Law Students. Attorney Stewart was recognized by the Trumpet Awards Foundation with the High Heels Award, and in March 2014, she was presented the Phenomenal Woman’s Award from the Black Women’s Expo and also received the United Negro College Fund National Alumni Legacy Award for her support on education.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Tampa Bay community, I would like to take this opportunity to once again honor Attorney Carolyn House Stewart during this Black History Month for her many years of unselfish service and leadership, and for consistently being at the forefront of effective advocacy and social change throughout the Tampa Bay community.