# Stewart W. Bainum Sr.

> Stewart William Bainum Sr. (1919-2014) was an American entrepreneur and philanthropist who moved from plumbing and property development into hotels, helped shape the modern lineage of Choice Hotels International, and co-founded an education-focused family foundation with his wife, Jane. His experience of leaving school because he could not afford tuition informed decades of educational giving.

- **Role:** Entrepreneur, hotel executive, real estate investor and philanthropist
- **Organizations:** Choice Hotels International, Quality Courts Motels, Quality Inns International, Park Consolidated Motels, Realty Investment Company, The College Foundation, Commonweal Foundation, Bainum Family Foundation, Manor Care
- **From:** Detroit, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** High school graduation, Mount Vernon Academy, Washington Missionary College (now Washington Adventist University)
- **Known for:** Helped shape the company lineage that became Choice Hotels International through the 1968 merger and subsequent leadership., Co-founded an educational family foundation in 1968 with Jane Bainum., Sponsored educational support and a college-funding commitment for the Kramer Junior High Dreamers.

## Career timeline

- **1936** — Hitchhiked from Cincinnati to the Washington area and found work as a plumber’s helper.
- **1938** — Graduated from Mount Vernon Academy after returning to complete his education.
- **1941** — Married Jane Goyne.
- **1951** — Founded Realty Investment Company.
- **1957** — Opened his first hotel, the Park Silver, in Silver Spring, Maryland.
- **1961** — Joined the Quality Courts board and encouraged consideration of a for-profit structure.
- **1968** — Merged Park Consolidated with Quality Courts Motels, became president and CEO, and moved headquarters to Silver Spring; co-founded The College Foundation with Jane.
- **1972** — Quality Courts Motels became Quality Inns International; Stewart Jr. joined the family business.
- **1987** — Stewart Jr. succeeded his father in leadership of the combined family business.
- **1988** — Sponsored the I Have A Dream program at Kramer Junior High School in Washington, D.C.
- **2008** — Barbara Bainum succeeded him as CEO of the family foundation.
- **2009** — Named Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year.
- **2014** — Died on February 12, aged 94.
- **2023** — Posthumously inducted into the Business Travel Hall of Fame.

## Achievements

- Helped shape the company lineage that became Choice Hotels International through the 1968 merger and subsequent leadership.
- Co-founded an educational family foundation in 1968 with Jane Bainum.
- Sponsored educational support and a college-funding commitment for the Kramer Junior High Dreamers.
- Received the 2009 Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year honor.
- Posthumous 2023 Business Travel Hall of Fame inductee.

## Latest updates

- **2023-12** — Posthumous induction into the Business Travel Hall of Fame.
- **—** — In 2024, the family office history records third-generation leadership appointments at White Oak Enterprises and the Bainum Family Foundation.

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Last updated: 2026-10-14