Researching Jimmy Stewart

Stewart began his broadcast career in radio in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1961. He subsequently worked in such cities as Washington, D.C., Des Moines and Minneapolis, ending up in Tucson, where he worked at radio station KNST before making the jump to TV, taking over as weekend weather anchor at CBS affiliate KOLD in 1981, earning a degree in atmospheric physics from the University of Arizona while serving as the on-air weathercaster. Stewart made the move to NBC affiliate KVOA in 1990. Initially, he served as a morning and afternoon meteorologist, but moved into the Chief Meteorologist role after Michael Goodrich, the longtime meteorologist for KVOA, retired in June 1998.

After his retirement, Jimmy Stewart has been focusing on his astrophotography, and also traveling to various schools throughout Southern Arizona, teaching the science behind the weather to children.

He was born June 11, 1939 to John and Nelle Stewart. He graduated in 1957 from Lafayette High School (Alabama), where he starred in baseball, basketball and track. He went to Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee where he lettered in baseball, basketball and track.

Stewart came up with the Cubs as a middle infielder, making his major league debut at age 24 on September 3, 1963 in a 16-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants in Candlestick Park. His first career at-bat was a pinch-hit flyout against Baseball Hall of Famer Juan Marichal. His first hit came a week later on September 10 in an 8-0 road loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Again, he was pinch-hitting against a Baseball hall of Famer, Bob Gibson, but this time he hit a double and later singled against Gibson.

His most productive season came in 1964 for the Cubs, when he played 132 games and hit .253 with three home runs, 33 runs batted in, 17 doubles and 49 walks.

He was purchased from the Cubs by the Chicago White Sox during the season. After playing in their minor league system for two seasons, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds from the White Sox in the rule 5 draft. Due to his versatility in the field, during his three seasons with the Reds. Stewart was known as "Super Sub" as he played every position except pitcher. He played in two games of the 1970 World Series, going hitless in two at-bats as the Reds fell to the Baltimore Orioles in five games.

On November 29, 1971, Stewart was part of a trade that brought Joe Morgan, César Gerónimo, Ed Armbrister, Jack Billingham and Denis Menke to the Reds from the Houston Astros for Stewart, Lee May and Tommy Helms. After two seasons with the Astros, he played his final major league game at age 34 on September 29, 1973. He was released by the Astros on October 26, 1973.

He ended his 10-year career with 777 games played with a .237 batting average, eight home runs and 112 runs batted in.

In 1978 he was inducted into the Austin Peay Athletics Hall of Fame.

After his playing days ended, in 1980 Stewart rejoined the Reds, serving first as a minor league manager and then as a scout, serving as major league scout from 1984 through 1991. In 1992 he joined the Philadelphia Phillies as a major league special assignment scout, and remained in that position until his retirement in 2006.

He retired to Florida with his wife Donna. Jimmy Stewart died at age 73 on November 24, 2012 in Odessa, Florida.