
THE LEGACY OF DR. HENRY SCOTT
HE IS DR. SCOTT
A dialogue researched and crafted by Dr. David Kirkbride
He is Dr. Scott
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He is William Henry Scott, Jr.
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He is native of White County, Kentucky, born November 19, 1937.
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He is the son of William Henry Scott, Sr. and Floretta Rebecca Vermillion.
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He was raised in Colbert, Oklahoma.
He is Dr. Scott
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He has answered to the call of the school bell for the past 80 years as a student, teacher, coach, and administrator.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is an educator for the past 63 years.
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He is Dr. Scott
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He is teacher and coach from 1959 to 1971.
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He is Denison High School assistant principal from 1971 to 1976 and Denison High School Principal from 1976 to 1981.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is Denison ISD Assistant Superintendent from 1981 to 1993.
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He is and has been the Denison ISD Superintendent for the past 29 years…..from 1993 to June 16, 2022.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is a man of many names.
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He is Mr. Scott, Coach Scott, Dr. Scott, Handsome Henry, Little Henry, Dad, and Paw Paw.
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He has answered to the bell for each of his names for a lifetime.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is the belief that our most valuable resource is our people.
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He is of the belief that we are only as good as the people we have in our schools…..the people we have in our classrooms.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is the frequent acknowledgement of the high quality of people in Denison ISD and the Denison Community.
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He is, outside of his family, most proud of the quality of people in Denison.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is the hiring of good people and allowing them (and expecting them) to do their jobs…..and to do their jobs well.
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He is the appreciation and value of hard work, determination, integrity, and he appreciates people who see a need and take the initiative.
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He is the giver of credit when credit is due.
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He has answered to the bell of the power of people.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is the belief in the power of community.
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He is appreciation for the community of Denison.
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He is the importance of building community relationships……for the good of our students and families, the district and our wonderful City of Denison.
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He is Never take the support of the community for granted……never.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is committed to taking care of students and their families.
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He is a heart for the less fortunate and for those who are struggling.
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He is a great philanthropist, supporting and promoting many foundations and non-profits, too many to name.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is an advocate for all things Denison and the spirit of the Yellow Jacket.
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He is we’ve got great kids, teachers, staff members, and community.
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He is a living, breathing encyclopedia of the history of Denison (the people, places, events, dates, and occasions).
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His knows and is the teller of our great story.
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He has answered to the bell of community.
We are Denison and He is Dr. Scott
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He is fight for what is right and he is a bull-dogged determination when there is a worthy cause.
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He is approaching (cornering) the Commissioner of Education in the restroom about state testing and accountability.
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He is putting an Athletic Director firmly in his place (not ours) over the number of BOTA tickets that we should have received.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is well respected in Denison, Grayson County, Region 10, Southeastern Oklahoma, North Texas, and across the great state of Texas.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is an advocate of public education and has remained politically active to that end.
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He is Austin is not a friend of education, but that will only change if educators will choose to get out and vote.
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He is an “I voted today” sticker on his chest.
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He has answered to the bell of being in the corner of Denison ISD and all things public education.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is a creature of habit.
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He is a 6:00 am alarm clock.
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He is walk through the doors of the admin building at 7:50 and say good morning to whoever is in ear shot.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is Cotton Patch, Cracker Barrel, and Hucks for lunch.
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He is country fried steak, mashed potatoes, and a scoop of Blue Bell.
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He is Rotary on Thursdays for lunch and a program.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is a haircut from Ron Ed every 3 weeks without fail at Imperial Barbers on Morton.
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He is check and brush his hair in the mirror several times a day…..every day.
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He is close the office door at 4:30, change into his workout clothes, and head to the track or the gym.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is leave a little early every third Tuesday of the month to feed the cows and to rest before the school board meeting.
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He is perfect attendance at school board meetings since 1981 (that’s well over 500 board meetings). June 14 will be his last at the helm.
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He has answered to the bell of consistency, reliability, and steadfastness.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is the epitome of Old School.
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He is vintage 1980s wood paneling on his office walls.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is the same desk and office furniture he inherited from Dr. Bill Jacobs in 1993.
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He is the same squeaky chair behind his desk.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is a black Paper Mate flair pen (medium).
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He is an At-A-Glance flip calendar (that I’ve teased him about wearing it on his belt).
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He is “How does an electronic signature even work?”
He is Dr. Scott
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He is start meetings on time.
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He is short meetings……..and he’s done when he’s done.
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And in general, He is……just be on time.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is a white shirt, suit, and tie…….and wear your suit coat when you leave the building.
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He is an absolute love of the superintendency for the past 29 years, and it has never felt like a job, rather a true joy and passion.
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He has answered to the bell of the comfort of the old fashioned, highly effective way of life and work.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is a character.
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He is a sly smile and a wink.
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He is the biting of his finger nails.
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He is What the hell just happened? Damn idiot and That’s the craziest things I’ve ever heard or seen.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is I was prepared to lie about it, but I didn’t have to (with a smile and a wink).
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He is What are they going to do…..fire me?
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And he is swapping stories of the good ole days with the Old Guard and having some fun at the expense of some other “characters”.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is in control……and he likes it that way! He is impossible to say No to.
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He is an iron clad memory that never ceases to amaze.
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He has answered to the bell of finding joy in work and life and not taking either too seriously.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is an accomplished leader.
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He is the Texas Classroom Teachers Association central office administrator of the year.
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He is the House of Representative honoree for exceptional contribution to public education.
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He is the Rotary Club Outstanding Community Service Award recipient
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He is Southeastern Oklahoma State University Distinguished Alumni
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He is the Denison Education Association Educator of the Year.
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He is Texas A & M Commerce Alumni Ambassador.
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He is the National Council of Boys Scouts of America Award of Merit recipient.
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And he is winner of the 5K for Kindness multiple times (for his age group).
He is Dr. Scott
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He is a 13 million dollar bond in 1997 to build a new Terrell School and add libraries and gyms to all elementary campuses.
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He is a 79 million dollar bond in 2011 (in very poor economic times) to build the new high school and completely restructure the district.
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He is a 20 million dollar bond in 2019 to build new cafeterias and add 10 additional classrooms at both Mayes and Hyde Park Elementary Schools.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is the Dr. Scott Scholarship ($61,000 and counting).
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He is Henry Scott Middle School.
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He is the holder of the key to the city.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is the casting of a vision 29 years ago.
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He is high expectations and accountability.
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He is "We will become an exemplary district" (and we did).
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He has answered to the bell of leadership.
He is Dr. Scott
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He is our leader.
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He is one-of-a-kind….there will never be another.
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He is iconic….yet he is humble.
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He is a family man and a great man.
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He is the 7th framed portrait on the wall of superintendents in the Administration Building.
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He is leaving an everlasting mark on this district and on this community.
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He is legacy.
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HE is Denison.
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And He has answered to the call of the school bell faithfully for 80 years.
He is William Henry Scott, Jr.
A PHOTO HISTORY
After gathering pictures of Dr. Henry Scott, these posters were produced for display at various events.









