North Carolina's Governor Bob Scott passes away at age 79

HAW RIVER, N.C. (January 23, 2009) – Former North Carolina Governor Robert "Bob" Walter Scott passed away early this morning from failing health, according to his family. His death brings to an end a life spent serving the people of the great state of North Carolina.

Scott died peacefully at 3:00 a.m. at the Hospice Palliative Care Center of Alamance County. A funeral service will be held for Governor Scott at Hawfields Presbyterian Church in Mebane, N.C., on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009, at 11:00 a.m.

Born on June 13, 1929, Scott was the son of N.C. Governor and U.S. Senator Kerr Scott and Mary White Scott, of Hawfields. He is predeceased by his son, W. Kerr Scott, and his brother, Osborne White Scott. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jessie Rae Scott; daughters Meg Phipps, Mary Scott, Susan Sutton and Jan Scott; and seven grandchildren, as well as his sister, Mary Kerr Lowdermilk.

Scott went to Alexander Wilson High School and attended both Duke University and NC State University. He served in the counter-intelligence corps of the U.S. Army during the Korean War before returning to manage the family dairy farm in Alamance County.

He was an active member of the State Grange and many agriculture organizations and did not have his mind originally set on politics. However, he was persuaded by supporters to run for office and was eventually elected to serve as North Carolina's lieutenant governor in 1964. He was then elected governor in 1968. After being term-limited out of office, he was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve as the chairman of the Appalachian Regional Commission and later became the president of the N.C. Community College System from 1983 to 1995.

He was a visionary leader and a staunch advocate for civil rights, rural communities and education. Among his many accomplishments, his foresight led to the creation of the 16-campus state university system and a reorganization of state departments and agencies.

Scott's personal passion for history led to the preservation of the State Capitol, restoration of the Governor's Mansion, creation of the Reed Gold Mine State Historic Site and many other contributions to North Carolina art, culture and history.

His rural roots allowed him to connect with average citizens despite his family's pedigree. He often remarked he was just as comfortable eating with "barbeque kings" as he was with European royalty. In fact, Scott and his wife hosted the executive mansion's first documented black-tie possum dinner in 1969.

That wasn't the only first for Scott. He appointed the Honorable Sammie Chess, Jr., as the first African-American to serve as a superior court judge. He also forced through the state's first cigarette tax to fund kindergarten education programs.

Although he never sought recognition, Scott was honored with many awards, including the North Carolina Award for Public Service, NC State University's Watauga Award and the North Caroliniana Society Award.

For more information on Bob Scott or any other members of the Scott Family, please visit www.scottcollection.org.