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Orlando Commissioner Robert Stewart to retire; releases oral-history podcast with brother George Stewart Jr.
Summary
Robert Stewart, who says he will retire after 20 years on the Orlando City Commission, published an episode of his "Orlando History Makers" podcast featuring his brother, former council member and state senator George Stewart Jr., who traces Orlando's transformation from citrus to a tourism and convention hub.
Robert Stewart, identified in the episode as an Orlando City commissioner, said he will soon retire after 20 years in office and recorded a final oral-history episode of his podcast "Orlando History Makers" with his brother, former city council member and state senator George Stewart Jr. The episode frames a personal look back at turning points in Orlando's modern growth and civic life.
In the opening minutes, Stewart introduced the show and said his aim was to "bring some of the great stories of Orlando's history to life" and "leave a gift of history" for listeners. He named George Stewart Jr. as the guest and noted their family connection before moving into a series of recollections covering elections, downtown revitalization, and infrastructure projects.
George Stewart Jr. recounts his entry into local politics, recalling that Disney World opened in October 1971 and that a council vote in 1972 rejecting a hotel proposal near Lake Eola motivated him to run at age 26. The pair discuss changes to council structure, the adoption of single-member districts later in the decade, and major civic projects such as the airport conversion and downtown redevelopment.
The episode closes with George offering advice to future leaders to stay engaged in local government and to prioritize parks, trees and mixed-use neighborhoods. Robert Stewart directs listeners to an oral-history clip at orlandomemory.info via the Orange County Public Library System for further listening and recommends a local book by former Mayor Karl Langford for additional reading.
