In Memoriam: John T. Stuart III (1936-2022)

STUART III, John Thomas died peacefully at home on May 27, 2022.  A lifelong resident of Dallas, he was born August 12, 1936 to Dorothy Guthrie Stuart and John Thomas Stuart, Jr.  He attended Highland Park High School and the University of Texas, graduating in 1958.  Subsequently, he graduated from SMU’s Southwestern Graduate School of Banking and the Harvard Advanced Management Program.

At Highland Park, John was a cheerleader and Blanket Award recipient.  At the University of Texas, John was a member of Delta Tau Delta, The Texas Cowboys, Editor of The Cactus and a Distinguished Military Student.  He was a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Beta Gama Sigma.  Following graduation, he was in the US Army stationed at Ft Hood Texas. He then joined Republic Bank in Dallas, rising to be President and holding the same title in the successor First Republic Bank of Dallas.  He moved on to be President and CEO of Alpert Investment Company.  He then joined Guaranty Bank, the Temple Inland subsidiary, retiring as Vice Chairman.  He served on the Board and returned as Chairman and CEO for a brief time.   He became Vice Chairman of Belmont Interests, a private wealth management company until he retired.

As an alumnus of the University of Texas, he served as President of the Dallas Chapter of the Texas Exes, President of the Texas Exes at Austin, Chairman of the Texas Red McCombs School of Business Advisory Council, the Longhorn Foundation and the UT System Chancellor’s Council.  He was also President of the University of Texas Foundation.  He served on the Centennial Commission of 100 and the Commission of 125.  The University honored him with the Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Business School Distinguished Alumnus Award and Hall of Fame Award.  Friends established the John T. Stuart III Centennial Chair in Business Administration. He along with his wife Barbara was named ”Top Hands” by the Texas Exes as well as the Dallas Distinguished Alumni. He was a Life Member of the Development Board at the University of Texas, Austin and Dallas.  He was a member of the Littlefield Society.

He served for six years as a member of the University of Texas Athletic Council and was named an honorary letterman.  He was appointed by the UT Athletic director to the Board of the Cotton Bowl Athletics Association.  He served as President and Chairman in 1992, serving two years and was a Life Director.  As a long-time member of the Team Selection Committee, John traveled to a number of colleges developing lifelong friendships around the country.  He and Barbara enjoyed their travels to UT football games both in Austin and away from coast to coast including three trips to the Rose Bowl, two of which were National Championship games.

He served on a number of civic boards in Dallas but in most recent years he gave his time to Callier Center of Dallas becoming President of the Board.  He also found great enjoyment from his volunteering time with the Boys Scouts of America.  He was President of the Circle 10 Council, President of the Circle 10 Foundation, an area and regional Vice President.  He served as Jamboree Sub Camp 16 Chief in 2010. He received the Distinguished Eagle Award, The Silver Beaver Award, the Silver Antelope Award as well as the Whitney Young Service Award.  He was a Vigil Honor and Order of the Arrow. He enjoyed his trips to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico for training programs on behalf of Scouting including Wood Badge.

Having lived most of his life in University Park, he felt it a privilege to have served as President of the University Library and a number of years on the University Park Finance Advisory Committee which he was Chairman until his recent resignation.

John enjoyed his service to amateur golf in Texas serving on the Texas Golf Association Foundation and a volunteer at area tournaments for the Association.

He served on a number of other boards including The Executive Board of North Texas Public Broadcasting, Chairman of the YWCA, Board of the Florence Foundation, Board of the Summer Musicals and the African-American Museum Board of Trustees.  He was a lifetime member of the Salesmanship Club.

John really enjoyed trout fishing in both the lower 48 and Alaska.  He was fond of his greenhouse and enjoyed discovering new plants for landscaping in Texas.  Both areas he could immerse himself and find pleasure and beauty.

He was a past President of Royal Oaks Country Club, member of Dallas Country Club and Highland Park Presbyterian Church.

He is survived by his wonderful and loving wife of almost 66 years, Barbara Kay White Stuart, his son John Michael Stuart, his daughter and son in law, Melissa and George Pettit Macatee IV, grandchildren, George Pettit Macatee, V, wife Kailee, McBride Macatee Oden, husband Madison and John Stuart Macatee and John Michael Stuart II.  John has two Great grandsons; Madison Lee Oden III “Tres” and George Pettit Macatee, VI.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7, at Highland Park Presbyterian Church.