James Stewart, from Chicago, served as president of the Western Tennis Association for nine years (1922-28). He was responsible for the development and growth of tennis in the Western section during the 1920s. That era brought great players to tournaments in Detroit, Chicago, Indianapolis and Cincinnati. During his presidency, Western conceived and hosted the first U.S. Intersectional Team Championships, obtained three Kentucky counties changing the Southern Ohio District to the Ohio Valley District, hosted the first USLTA meeting held west of Philadelphia, and hosted first Davis Cup tie involving a U.S. team ever held in Western territory.