SCOTT, WILLIE LEO (1920 ~ 2002). Major General Willie Leo Scott, former Adjutant General of Texas, was born in Blue Ridge, Texas on April 13, 1920, to John Henry and Frances Elizabeth (Jorge) Scott. He graduated from Hamlin High School in 1938, at which time he enlisted in Battery "A", 131st Field Artillery Battalion, 36th Infantry Division. His unit was mobilized in 1940. He was given command of Battery "B", 174th Battalion in 1943 and commanded it during five major campaigns; Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe. This included the Battle of the Bulge. He returned to the United States in 1945 as a Major.
He enrolled in Hardin-Simmons University and received his Bachelor's degree in 1947. He then accepted a one-year service commission in Guam with the 553rd Engineer Construction Battalion. He returned to Hardin-Simmons and received his Masters of Arts degree in 1949. During his student years, he was President of the Student Body, a varsity football player and Captain of the basketball team. He remained at Hardin-Simmons on the coaching staff from 1950-1962. He held the positions of Head Basketball Coach, Golf Coach and Assistant Athletic Director. During his coaching career, he was twice named "Southwest Boarder Conference Coach of the Year".
Now a Colonel, he was ordered to extended active duty in 1966 as an Air Defense Officer, serving with the U.S. Army Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was appointed Assistant Adjutant General of Texas in 1971, by Governor Preston Smith. He was appointed Brigadier General, Adjutant General's Corps in 1971 and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate. General Scott also served as Chairman of the Manpower and Readiness Committee for the Department of Defense in Washington, D.C. from 1973-1974. In 1979, he was appointed Adjutant General of Texas and confirmed by the Texas Senate and appointed as a Major General and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. As Adjutant General, he was responsible for opening Camp Mabry to the public for recreational purposes. He retired as Adjutant General in 1985. In 1987, General Scott was appointed by Governor William Clements to be the Executive Director of the Department of Community Affairs and was confirmed by the Texas Senate. He served in this position until 1991. Over the course of his distinguished military and civic career in service to God and Country, General Scott served under the appointment of Governor Preston Smith, Governor Dolph Briscoe, Governor William P. Clements (both terms) and Governor Mark White. He served on the Board of Directors for the Salvation Army for ten years and on the Board of Directors for the United Way.
General Scott was the recipient of numerous decorations and awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Hardin-Simmons University. Major General Scott passed away on October 21, 2002, and was buried in the Texas State Cemetery four days later. He was married to the former Billie Sue White, and had two children, Aliceson and Richard. Scott had a son-in-law James V. Coates and a daughter-in-law Jill B. Scott as well as five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Information taken from Scott's obituary which appeared in the Wednesday, October 23, 2002 edition of the Austin American-Statesman. |
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