Stewart King collection

Stewart Edmund King was born in Boerne, Texas, on August 7, 1907. In 1931, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from Texas A & M University. King began his career as a landscape architect with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. From 1934 to 1939, he was employed by the U. S. Department of Interior’s National Park Service. During his tenure with the Civil Works Administration and the National Park Service, he performed extensive work on historic sites. From 1939 to 1951, King was the director of the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department. He assisted in restoring the historic “La Villita” area in downtown San Antonio and was active in the preservation of the urban San Antonio River.

From 1951 until the time of his death, King had a private practice with an office in the historic King William area of San Antonio. His “office” neighbors included architect O’Neil Ford and city planner Sam Zisman. While maintaining autonomous practices, they collaborated on larger projects such as Trinity University and Texas Instruments, where they integrated architecture, landscape architecture, and planning.

In 1968, King joint ventured with his protégé, James E. Keeter, to plan and design the landscape architecture for the HemisFair. King & Keeter continued collaborating on projects, including specifications for planting at White Sands Missile Range cantonment area, where they focused on water conservation.

King had a deep interest and concern for historic preservation. He served as an advisor and consultant for the San Antonio Conservation Society and the Archdiocese of San Antonio’s committee for preservation, which oversaw the restoration of the Old Spanish Missions. King contributed much effort toward obtaining the landscape architectural registration law in Texas, while encouraging younger people in his profession. He was a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, serving on many of the organization’s committees from chapter to national level, in addition to having been a trustee for the Southwest Chapter. Other professional affiliations included membership in the American Park and Recreation Society, of which he was also a Fellow, and the National Association of Housing and Development Officials.

On August 7, 1970, Stewart E. King succumbed to cancer at age 63.

Sources:

New Braunfels Herald newspaper, July 7, 1967, page 1.

A Resolution of the Texas State Legislature honoring Stewart E. King, sponsored by The Honorable Jake Johnson, Representative of Bexar County, 1970.

San Antonio Express-News newspaper, 1970.

San Antonio Light newspaper, 1970.

George, Carolyn. “O’Neil Ford, architect,” Texas A & M University Press, 1992.

Dillan, David. “The Architecture of O’Neil Ford, Celebrating Place,” University of Texas Press, 1999.

Keeter, James. Telephone interview. 7 April 2010.

Powell, Boone. Telephone interview. 5 April 2010.

Black, Sinclair, and his staff. Telephoned Interviews. 21 April 2010.

-adapted from Glenn Cook