Stewart selected for hall of fame

COEUR d'ALENE - The track record spoke for itself.

All the Idaho Hall of Fame decision makers had to do after reviewing human rights activist Tony Stewart's biography was rubber stamp his nomination.

"It's extremely humbling," said Stewart Friday as the IHOF's newest member for the role he played helping drive the Aryan Nations from North Idaho in the early 2000s.

Standing up against the Aryan Nations - a group that resorted to violence as intimidation around the region and was once targeted as a "terrorist threat" by the government - Stewart ensured North Idaho's reputation would be one of harmony instead of hate.

For his work as secretary and an original founder of the Task Force on Human Relations, Stewart was inducted Friday at The Coeur d'Alene Resort, headlining a class of six from North Idaho heading into Idaho's hallowed ranks.

Even though personal recognition is nice, Stewart said it took a community effort to stand up against the Aryans.

"I learned something early on in life," he said, "Never, ever do something by yourself."

Originally founded in 1985 in Payette, the hometown of baseball great Harmon Killebrew, the IHOF will have 165 members after all of this year's inductees are introduced. They include individuals, nonprofits and businesses that strive to make Idaho the best it can be.

Freeman Duncan, IHOF's North Idaho director, nominated Stewart, along with Dr. Forrest Bird, longtime Benewah County Commissioner Jack Buell, Silverwood Theme Park, Hospice of North Idaho and the Kroc Community Center.

It wasn't until after 2009 when Duncan joined the IHOF team did North Idaho begin to get more representation.

And when the selection committee saw Stewart's nomination, Duncan said, they were "speechless."

But Stewart insisted the personal award was really an award for the entire region. Choosing tolerance over bigotry is a community decision, not just one man's, he said.

"It takes a team," he said. "It's not just me, it's everyone."