{{short description|American businessman (born 1951)}} {{use mdy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = David Steward | birth_name = David Lloyd Steward | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|7|2}} | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | education = Central Missouri State University (BS) | spouse = Thelma | children = 2, including Kimberly | known_for = Chairman and founder of World Wide Technology }} '''David Lloyd Steward''' (born July 2, 1951) is an American billionaire businessperson. Globally, he is the 213th richest and the richest African American, with a fortune exceeding $10B as of 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Jabari |title=The World’s Black Billionaires 2025 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jabariyoung/2025/04/02/the-worlds-black-billionaires-2025/ |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Forbes 2025 Billionaires List - The Richest People In The World Ranked |url=https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/ |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=Forbes |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=David Steward |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/david-steward/ |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> He is chairman and founder of World Wide Technology,<ref>{{cite news|title=David L Steward|url=https://people.forbes.com/profile/david-l-steward/17011|work=Forbes|accessdate=25 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613113739/http://people.forbes.com/profile/david-l-steward/17011|archive-date=13 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> one of the largest African-American-owned businesses in America.<ref name="referenceforbusiness.com">{{cite encyclopedia|title=David L Steward, 1951-|url=http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/biography/S-Z/Steward-David-L-1951.html|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Business, 2nd ed|accessdate=25 March 2011}}</ref>
==Early life==
Steward was born in 1951 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Dorothy Elizabeth Massingale, a homemaker, and Harold Lloyd Steward, a mechanic.<ref name="referenceforbusiness.com" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=David L. Steward |url=https://horatioalger.org/members/detail/david-l-steward/ |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1953, the family moved to Clinton, Missouri. As a child growing up in Clinton, Steward faced poverty and discrimination.<ref name="riseandgrind.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.riseandgrind.com/2009/12/03/david-l-steward/ |title=Riseandgrind.com |access-date=2011-07-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091220152739/http://www.riseandgrind.com/2009/12/03/david-l-steward/ |archive-date=2009-12-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
"I vividly remember segregation—separate schools, sitting in the balcony at the movie theater, being barred from the public swimming pool," notes Steward, who was among a small group of African-American high-school students who integrated the public swimming pool in Clinton in 1967.<ref>Steward, David L., and Robert L. Shook, ''Doing Business by the Good Book'', New York: Hyperion, 2004</ref>
Steward received his Bachelor of Science in business from Central Missouri State University in 1973.<ref name="umsystem.edu">{{cite web|url=http://www.umsystem.edu/curators/members/stewardd|publisher=University of Missouri|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926005143/https://www.umsystem.edu/curators/members/stewardd|archivedate=September 26, 2015|title=David L. Steward}}</ref><ref name="referenceforbusiness.com"/>
==Business career== After graduating from college, Steward worked at Wagner Electric as a production manager (1974–1975), a sales representative at Missouri Pacific Railroad (1975–1979), and a senior account executive at FedEx (1979–1984), where he was recognized as salesman of the year and inducted into the company's hall of fame in 1981. He owned Transportation Business Specialists and Transport Administrative Services in the years leading up to founding World Wide Technology.<ref name="referenceforbusiness.com"/> He is also a founder of Telcobuy, a global technology and supply chain management company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telcobuy.com/about.html|title=Telcobuy.com | About|website=www.telcobuy.com}}</ref>
===World Wide Technology=== In 1990, Steward co-founded World Wide Technology, a systems integrator.<ref name="umsystem.edu"/> In 1993, WWT concentrated its focus on the implementation of enterprise wide imaging, conversion services, and telecommunication networks.<ref name="ucmo.edu">{{cite web|url=http://www.ucmo.edu/market/html/amaexec.html#steward|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930191348/http://www.ucmo.edu/market/html/amaexec.html|archivedate=September 30, 2011|publisher=Hormon College of Business Administration|title=Mr. David L. Steward – AMA Distinguished Executive for 1996}}</ref>
In 1999 WWT spun off its telecommunications division to form Telcobuy.com. Sales for the two companies continued to grow, although revenues slipped in 2002 as WWT felt the impact of the technology recession. In 2003 combined reported revenues passed $1 billion, and Steward formed World Wide Technology Holding Company as the parent company for the two firms.<ref name="referenceforbusiness.com"/>
WWT's 2018 revenue was estimated to be greater than $11 billion,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.wwt.com/all-news/press-kit/|date=December 22, 2016|title=Press Kit|publisher=World Wide Technology|access-date=March 8, 2019|archive-date=May 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190528034243/https://www.wwt.com/all-news/press-kit/|url-status=dead}}</ref> which would've ranked it as one of St. Louis's largest private companies.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/print-edition/2010/12/10/world-wide-technology-incs-sales.html | date=10 December 2010 | first=Rick | last=Desloge | title=World Wide Technology Inc.'s sales pass $3 billion}}</ref>
==Civic and community involvement==
Steward has been on committees and boards that include: Civic Progress of St. Louis; the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association; Missouri Technology Corporation, appointed by the Governor of Missouri; Webster University; BJC Health System; First Banks, Inc.; Saint Louis Science Center; United Way of Greater St. Louis; The Greater St. Louis Area Council of Boy Scouts of America and Harris–Stowe State University African-American Business Leadership Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nmsdcus.org/nmsdc/app/template/contentMgmt,ContentPage.vm/contentid/1913;jsessionid=2DE471959040F16976A161951ED6F11E|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327152824/http://www.nmsdcus.org/nmsdc/app/template/contentMgmt,ContentPage.vm/contentid/1913;jsessionid=2DE471959040F16976A161951ED6F11E|archivedate=March 27, 2012|publisher=National Minority Supplier Development Council|title=David L. Steward}}</ref> In 2011, Steward was appointed to the board of curators, University of Missouri by Governor Jay Nixon,<ref name="umsystem.edu" /> although he resigned before his term was through.<ref>{{Cite web|title=David Steward resigns from University of Missouri Board of Curators|url=https://www.columbiatribune.com/article/20160201/NEWS/302019988|access-date=2021-02-26|website=Columbia Daily Tribune|language=en}}</ref>
== Philanthropy == Steward and his wife, Thelma Steward, established the Steward Family Foundation, which supports initiatives in education, health, and human services, with a focus on underrepresented communities and faith-based organizations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Steward Family Foundation |url=https://helpingpeople.org/steward-family-foundation/ |access-date=2 November 2025 |website=HelpingPeople.org |publisher=United Way of Greater St. Louis}}</ref> Through the foundation and personal giving, the Stewards have contributed millions of dollars to regional and national organizations, including the United Way of Greater St. Louis, Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis, and numerous educational and cultural programs.<ref>{{cite web |date=2023-08-15 |title=Dave Steward: Philanthropic Champion Committed to United Way |url=https://helpingpeople.org/blog/dave-steward-philanthropic-champion-committed-to-united-way/ |access-date=2 November 2025 |website=HelpingPeople.org |publisher=United Way of Greater St. Louis}}</ref>
Steward has served on the boards of several civic and educational institutions, including Washington University in St. Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden, and the Horatio Alger Association.<ref>{{cite web |title=David L. Steward |url=https://horatioalger.org/members/detail/david-l-steward/ |access-date=2 November 2025 |website=Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans}}</ref> He has also supported STEM education initiatives aimed at increasing access for minority and low-income students, and his foundation has sponsored workforce development programs throughout the Midwest.<ref>{{cite news |last=Staff |date=2024-05-18 |title=How David L. Steward Built the Nation’s Largest Black-Owned Business Rooted in God, Bible Scriptures, and Faith |url=https://michiganchronicle.com/how-david-l-steward-built-the-nations-largest-black-owned-business-rooted-in-god-bible-scriptures-and-faith/ |access-date=2 November 2025 |work=Michigan Chronicle}}</ref>
== Political activities == In 2019, while Steward served on the Washington University in St. Louis board of trustees, he supported a measure in Missouri General Assembly that would affect Title IX investigations at universities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Suntrup |first=Jack |date=2019-03-06 |title=Wash U 'strongly opposes' Title IX changes that one of its trustees supports |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/wash-u-strongly-opposes-title-ix-changes-that-one-of-its-trustees-supports/article_e24ce28a-2a76-58b3-b43a-a4f64f584dd5.html |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |language=en}}</ref> The measure was initiated by a lobbyist, employed by Steward at the time, whose son was expelled from Washington University following a Title IX violation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hancock |first=Jason |date=November 12, 2021 |title=GOP auditor hopeful scores endorsements from Missouri billionaire, legislative leader |url=https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/gop-auditor-hopeful-scores-endorsements-from-missouri-billionaire-legislative-leader/ |access-date=2023-08-16 |website=Missouri Independent |language=en-US}}</ref>
Steward was finance chair of the Trust In The Mission PAC, a super PAC supporting Senator Tim Scott's Republican 2024 Presidential Campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Brian |date=2023-09-26 |title=Super PAC backing Tim Scott GOP presidential bid taps billionaire tech exec as finance chair |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/26/tim-scott-super-pac-picks-billionaire-tech-exec-to-be-finance-chair.html |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> In 2024, Steward donated about $230,000 to PACs supporting Republican candidates, including Mike Parson and Mike Kehoe.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vasan |first=Paula |date=2024-10-07 |title=Critics question political donations from World Wide Technology's founder amid ongoing IT issues plaguing Missouri's child care centers |url=https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/investigations/political-donations-world-wide-technologys-founder-it-issues-missouri-child-care-centers/63-d4a6c72c-3a27-4d45-a438-43f9ebac686d |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=ksdk.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Publications== *''Doing Business by the Good Book'' (with Robert L. Shook)<ref>{{cite news|last=Young |first=Stephanie |title=The Steps to Success |url=http://www.blackenterprise.com/?s=world+wide+technology |accessdate=25 March 2011 |newspaper=Black Enterprise |date=August 1, 2004 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310170728/http://www.blackenterprise.com/?s=world+wide+technology |archivedate=March 10, 2012 }}</ref>
==Recognition==
*100 Leaders for the Millennium, St. Louis Business Journal, 2000<ref name="answers.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.answers.com/topic/david-steward|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110115326/http://www.answers.com/topic/david-steward|archivedate=November 10, 2012|title=Dave Steward|publisher=Answers.com|last=Kiser|first=Helene Barker}}</ref> *100+ Most Influential Black Americans - ''Ebony'' magazine <ref>{{cite news|title=100+ Most Influential Black Americans|url={{GBurl|id=5tUDAAAAMBAJ|q=Steward|p=68}}|accessdate=25 March 2011|newspaper=Ebony magazine|date=May 2002|publisher = Johnson Publishing Company}}</ref> *14th Best American Entrepreneur, Success Magazine, 1998<ref name="answers.com"/> *Business Person of the Year for Missouri, Small Business Administration<ref name="referenceforbusiness.com"/> *Company of the Year, Black Enterprise, 1999<ref name="answers.com"/> *Entrepreneur of the Year, Black Enterprise, 2000<ref name="answers.com"/> *Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, 1998<ref name="answers.com"/> *Five time winner, Fast 50 Awards<ref name="answers.com"/> *Granville T. Woods Award for Outstanding CEO, 1997<ref name="answers.com"/> *Minority Small Business Person of the Year, Small Business Administration, 1997, 1998<ref name="answers.com"/> *Phoenix Award, St. Louis Minority Business Council, 2000<ref name="answers.com"/> *Small Business Association Hall of Fame, 2001<ref name="answers.com"/> *The American Marketing Association 1996 Distinguished Executive<ref name="ucmo.edu"/> *Top 100 Industrial/Service Companies, Black Enterprise, 11th in 1998, 6th in 1999, 1st in 2000 and 2001<ref name="answers.com"/> *Top 100 List of St. Louis Leaders, 2002 <ref name="answers.com"/> *Top Minority Entrepreneur, Small Business Administration, 1998<ref name="answers.com"/> *Black Engineer of the Year, BEYA STEM Conference, 2012<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www2.wwt.com/content/david-steward-wins-2012-black-engineer-year-award |title=Wwt.com |access-date=2014-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222012429/http://www2.wwt.com/content/david-steward-wins-2012-black-engineer-year-award |archive-date=2014-02-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *Horatio Alger Award, Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/david-steward-named-horatio-alger-award-recipient/article_d5bbfbb3-07ef-5050-967b-1f572b445762.html|title=David Steward named Horatio Alger Award recipient|first=Lisa|last=Brown|website=stltoday.com|date=November 19, 2013 }}</ref> *Silver Buffalo Award, Boy Scouts of America<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2017/05/26/meet-2017-silver-buffalo-award-class/|title=Meet your 2017 Silver Buffalo Award class|first=Bryan|last=Wendell|date=May 26, 2017|website=Bryan on Scouting}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== * [http://www.wwt.com/company/history World Wide Technology website]
{{Wealthiest people in the United States}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Steward, David}} Category:1951 births Category:African-American billionaires Category:American billionaires Category:American business writers Category:American chief executives Category:Businesspeople from Chicago Category:Businesspeople in the software industry Category:Internet pioneers Category:Living people Category:People from Clinton, Missouri Category:University of Central Missouri alumni Category:African-American company founders Category:American company founders Category:21st-century African-American people Category:20th-century African-American businesspeople Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:Washington University in St. Louis trustees