Baylor Mourns Death of Beloved Alumna and Baylor Supporter, Elizabeth Parkhill Scott

Baylor University alumna and supporter Elizabeth Parkhill Scott of Caldwell, Texas, passed away Oct. 20. Though Scott once called herself an "ordinary person," she was far from it, often supporting the students of Baylor University in extraordinary ways.

A 1942 Baylor graduate, Scott was active in the Golden Wave Marching Band as a coronet player, and she served as a student worker alongside one of Baylor's great accounting professors, J. Leo Garrett. These experiences shaped her love for Baylor University and inspired her to support students in Baylor's Hankamer School of Business and Golden Wave Marching Band through endowed scholarships.

"Elizabeth's life was a wonderful testament to the mission of Baylor University," Interim President David E. Garland said. "From supporting students to building a strong career, Elizabeth, along with her husband, Scotty, generously furthered the mission of Baylor with admirable vigor and generosity. Countless students will earn a Baylor education because of the Scotts, and we are grateful."

After graduating from Baylor, Scott began what would become a 37-year career as an accountant with Humble Oil (now Exxon/Mobil). It was a field that included few women at the time, and while she was employed in Houston, she met and married Walter M. "Scotty" Scott. Together, the Scotts embraced life and Baylor before Mr. Scott's passing in 2000.

In memory of her parents and their love for Baylor, the Scotts established the Walter M. and Elizabeth Parkhill Scott Endowed Scholarship Fund, which supports students enrolled in Baylor's Hankamer School of Business.

"Mrs. Scott has been a wonderful supporter of the Hankamer School of Business. I always enjoyed visiting with her at the university's Endowed Scholarship Banquet where she was able to meet the students the Walter M. and Elizabeth Parkhill Scott Endowed Scholarship supported," Terry Maness, dean of the Hankamer School of Business, said. "She was a wonderful ambassador for Baylor during her career at Exxon and as a retiree. She will be missed."

Scott extended her generosity from the business school to students in the marching band -- two areas that were deeply important in her Baylor career.

"The real sparkle in her eye came when we either were talking about her delightful dachshunds or the band," Will May, dean of Baylor's School of Music, said. "Inner strength and confidence were two of Elizabeth's wonderful traits. Long years of working as a woman in what was then a man's world demonstrated her strength of spirit. Yet, her joyous and compassionate side always showed through. She attributed a lion's share of those characteristics to her development at Baylor. I wish we could claim such credit, but we can't. We'll certainly miss her great spirit."

Scott was a member of the Old Main Society, and she and her husband were honored as members of the James Huckins Society of the Medallion Fellowship and were recently inducted into the Golden Bear Circle of the Endowed Scholarship Society.

In addition to her generous support of Baylor University, Scott was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Caldwell and served in the Lion's Club, where she worked with the Leader Dogs for the Blind and Texas Crippled Children's programs.

Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Caldwell. Graveside services for Mrs. Scott will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at Caldwell Masonic Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Walter M. and Elizabeth Parkhill Scott Endowed Scholarship Fund in the Hankamer School of Business or the Elizabeth Parkhill Scott Golden Wave Band Endowed Scholarship Fund at Baylor University, One Bear Place #97050, Waco, Texas 76798.

Contact: Jill Scoggins, Assistant Vice President for Media Communications, 254-710-1964