I grew up just west of Charles City in the town of Floyd and graduated from Floyd High School in 1949. A long, winding road brought the "Floyd Boy" back to Charles City to sell real estate 26 years later . . . .

After graduation, I spent four years in the U.S. Air Force. I married my high school sweetheart, Donna, in 1952 while I was home for Christmas. I finished my bachelor's degree at Iowa State Teacher's College in 1957, then my Master's degree in counseling at the University of Minnesota. Following graduation, I held several different positions at schools in Iowa and Minnesota - teacher, coach and counselor.

I left my counselor position at Richfield High School (Minnesota) in 1972 to begin my career as a realtor with Edina Realty in Bloomington, Minnesota. Returning to Iowa 1975, I teamed up with Bill Harrold Realty before starting my own firm in a one-room office at 205 North Main Street in 1987. Later that year, I installed the first computer used for real estate business in Charles City.

What began as Larry Stewart Realty has always been a family business: Dean, my youngest, joined the firm in 1988, my wife, Donna, and Lori, my oldest, are also agents at Stewart Realty Company. Donna and I have four other adult children, Dana, Gary, Lana and Joni (plus 13 grandchildren) and I can only try my best to lure them all back to Iowa.

Over time, I have led a wide variety of community organizations. I've taken turns as president of the Cedar Valley Board of REALTORS®, the Charles City Chamber of Commerce, the United Way Board, and the University of Northern Iowa Real Estate Advisory Committee. I am a member of the Elks Lodge, the Moose Lodge, and St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church.

As I hand off this business to the next generation, I am full of hope - the future of Stewart Realty Company is in good hands!