Meet the Laureates: Doug Stewart

Author: Sally Eastman
Community Involvement
Published: Wednesday, 01 Mar 2023

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Doug Stewart smiling wearing a suit and tie

Image caption: Doug Stewart

Doug Stewart grew up in Cullom, Illinois, a small central Illinois town with a population of 500. He believes the combination of Midwestern values and strong parental guidance has served him well throughout life. While in high school, Doug met his future wife, Vicky, and after graduation from college they married. In January 2023, they celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary.

Upon graduating from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1973, Doug entered the training program at Commercial National Bank of Peoria. Although he had received a number of employment offers from large corporations and he had been admitted to law school, the “feel of the Peoria community”, the stature of Commercial National Bank and the quality of its employees led him to Peoria. Doug spent 44 years on either the 3rd or 4th floor working for four banks at 301 SW Adams Street.

Commercial National Bank and its successors provided Doug with the breadth of experience that would be necessary to operate in the dynamic and ever-changing world of banking. During the first twenty years of his career, his assignments exposed him to wealth management, brokerage, farm management, mortgage origination, branch management, corporate banking, and treasury management. This extensive background prepared him to succeed Robert Stevenson as Regional President of First of America Bank. From 1997 to 2017, he served as downstate Illinois President for First of America, National City Bank and PNC Bank. Doug credits his success in managing through change to his diverse banking experiences, the relationships he built with his colleagues, and his ability to connect with the customers and the communities he served.

Doug was a founding member of the Peoria Civic Federation and Peoria Next. He also served on the boards of the Heartland Partnership, the Economic Development Council of Central Illinois, and the Chamber of Commerce. In retirement, he serves on the boards of the Vonachen Group and Zu Chem.

Throughout Doug's adult life, he has held firm to his belief in giving back to his community. Doug and Vicky feel access to education and basic human services is a right, not a privilege. Doug served on and chaired the Germantown Hills School Board, Illinois Central College Board of Trustees and the Bradley University Board of Trustees. Doug and Vicky provided leadership to the fundraising efforts of the Heart of Illinois United Way campaign and the Salvation Army Tree of Lights campaign among others. Doug has played a leadership role at the Heart of Illinois United Way, OSF Healthcare System, Peoria Riverfront Museum Foundation, Advanced Medical Transport, First Baptist Church, the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, and the Bielfeldt Foundation.

Doug and Vicky have been recognized by Peoria Magazine as Local Legends, the Heart of Illinois United Way as the McCord Philanthropists of the Year, and Easter Seals as the Tribute Dinner Honorees. Doug has been inducted into the African American Hall of Fame and the Bradley University Centurion Society.

He was also honored with the Creve Coeur Club Robert Michel Lifetime Achievement Award. in retirement, Doug has focused his energy on his family, community service, and travel. Doug and Vicky have two children, Dr. Sarah Stewart de Ramirez of Peoria and Blake Stewart of St Louis, MO. They also have seven grandchildren.