Baylor Mourns Passing of Retired Vice President, Dean of Business School

WACO, Texas (Dec. 1, 2015) – Baylor University is mourning the passing of Richard C. Scott, D.B.A., who served the university faithfully for nearly 40 years as a faculty member, dean and vice president of development. Scott died Nov. 24 in Waco. He was 81.

A memorial service for Dr. Scott will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, at First Baptist Church of Woodway, 101 Ritchie Rd.

“Baylor University has lost a beloved servant leader in Dr. Richard Scott,” said Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr. “His deep love for our university began as a student and continued as a devoted faculty member and dean of our nationally renowned Hankamer School of Business. As vice president for university development from 1996 to 2006, Dr. Scott successfully spearheaded fundraising activity that gave rise to a number of hallmark facilities on our campus, including the McLane Student Life Center, Mayborn Museum Complex, the Baugh-Reynolds Campus of George W. Truett Theological Seminary and a variety of new athletics facilities.

“As the entire Baylor community extends its deepest sympathies to his wife, Terry, and their children, Kim, Rick and Kelly, we remain deeply grateful for Dr. Scott’s steadfast leadership, his dedicated service to our university and his abiding love for his alma mater.”

Dr. Scott grew up in Waco and graduated from La Vega High School in 1952. He went on to Baylor and graduated in 1956 with his B.B.A. He was active in the ROTC and soon after graduation went to Officer’s Candidate School for the Navy. He was on active duty on the USS Platte for three years. While docked in Long Beach, California, he met his wife, Terry McGraw. He stayed in the reserves for 17 years and retired as a Commander.

Dr. Scott returned to Baylor to earn his M.B.A. in 1965, followed by his D.B.A. in 1968 from the University of Indiana In Bloomington. He then began a long and distinguished career at Baylor, during which he served nine years as a faculty member, two decades as dean of the Hankamer School of Business and vice president of development for 10 years.

“Richard Scott made a truly significant difference in my life for more than 33 years, first when I was a dean at Abilene Christian University and sought his advice on numerous occasions, and then for the past 26 years as a Baylor faculty member,” said J. William (Bill) Petty, Ph.D., professor, The W.W. Caruth Chair of Entrepreneurship and Master Teacher in the Hankamer School of Business. “I have had no finer encourager than him. But as much as I feel the blessing of his friendship, I know I am only a small part of the encouragement he has been to untold numbers. Undoubtedly, Richard Scott has made a big difference in the lives of tens of thousands when you consider the ripple effect. Few individuals have been a blessing to so many.”

He was active in the First Baptist Church of Woodway and on the Midway ISD School Board, and served on the boards of several national corporations such as Winnebago, Citizen’s Inc. and the Annuity Board of the SBC (now Guidestone). He was a sought after advisor and trusted colleague and beloved friend, devoted husband, father, grandfather and dedicated family man.

At the age of 76, Dr. Scott fought prostate cancer and won. He was subsequently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. The family wrote in his obituary, “For the past five years, he fought the effects while remaining active in his family, his church and a few investment businesses. While his outer body was decaying, his soul knew security and he taught each member of his family how practical the Love of God could be through his daily actions and words. He never stopped investing in the lives of others. As a lifelong Texan he was plain spoken. As a Navy man he made himself clear. As a Christian he was a compassionate servant leader. He was more than a man’s man. He was God’s man who triumphantly finished his race having fought the good fight, and having kept his faith firmly focused on the kingdom of God first.”

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Terry, and three children: Dr. Kim Scott, Ph.D., director of campus recreation at Baylor; Rick Scott and his wife, Heather; and Kelly Neason and her husband, John. He has two granddaughters, McKenna and Mia Scott. He has a sister, Anne Scott Grisham and a niece, Kathy Thorman (Cliff) and a nephew, Kenny Scott Grisham. He was very close to his first cousins that reside in Waco: Robert and Diane Scott, Kay and Jerry Mallett, Scott and Linda Pitzer. There are many other cousins and friends who will miss him but will carry on his legacy.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Richard C. Scott Endowed Scholarship Fund at Baylor University or to one of the 12 local charities highlighted by the First Baptist Church of Woodway Christmas Trees (brochures will be in the foyer of the church at the service).