La. Political Hall of Fame to honor Scott family

The Scott family of Alexandria is taking its place among legends of Louisiana politics as family members are posthumously being given special recognition by the Louisiana Political Museum in Winnfield.

The museum will honor the family, which included federal Judge Nauman S. Scott II and his son, state Rep. John W. “Jock” Scott,” with the Political Family of Officeholders’ Award on Feb. 7 during the Political Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

The family is delighted that the Scotts are receiving Hall of Fame recognition because it reminds everyone of their service.

“It’s such an honor and a real pleasure,” said Cyndy Scott, Jock Scott’s widow. “It’s just a shame that Nauman and Jock aren’t here to enjoy it. I know neither one of them ever expected to go into the Hall of Fame because they both just felt like they were doing their jobs.”

In addition to recognizing Nauman Scott and Jock Scott, the Louisiana Political Museum cited other family members for their contributions. Nauman’s grandfather, Albin Provosty, was a state senator, and his great-uncle, Olivier Provosty, was chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Those to be inducted into the Political Hall of Fame during the Feb. 7 ceremony in Winnfield include state Attorney General James “Buddy” Caldwell; former state Rep. Charles Emile “Peppi” Bruneau; former state Rep. John “Juba” Diez; former state Sen. and Rep. Noble Ellington; political columnist John Maginnis, who died last year; and former Judge Charles “Corky” Marvin.

Nauman Scott II was appointed by President Richard Nixon to the federal bench in Alexandria in 1970. He served until his death in 2001 at the age of 85. He implemented a desegregation plan for Rapides Parish public schools, which made him highly unpopular in some areas of the parish.

Jock Scott, who died in 2009 at the age of 61, served three terms in the state House of Representatives, beginning in 1976.

He began his career as a Democrat but later switched to the GOP. He was named “National Legislator of the Year” by the National Republican Legislators Association in 1987. He twice ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Jock authored “To The Victor: A Novel of Louisiana Politics” in 1986 and “Natalie Scott: A Magnificent Life,” a biography of his great-aunt, in 2008.

Cyndy, who was married to Jock for 39 years, will attend the Hall of Fame ceremony, as will their children and other relatives.

She still finds it hard to believe Jock died when he did because he was “the picture of health” up until his death.

Jock loved helping people, she said, and that came through in his political career.

“From a very early age, Jock has always been about service. Of course, his grandfather was a lawyer, his dad was a lawyer and became a judge, and Jock always wanted to get into politics as a matter of service,” Cyndy said.

“He always wanted to make a difference, and I think that’s the thing he liked the most about being in the Legislature and having that type power was that when someone called you that really needed help, you had the ability to help them.”

After stepping back from politics, Jock earned a doctorate in history and taught classes at Louisiana State University of Alexandria, Cyndy said, and “the only law work he continued to do was pro bono.”

In 1980, Judge Scott issued a federal order that closed some Rapides Parish schools and revised attendance zones, and he became vilified in some areas. The order also led to a nationally publicized showdown with 9th District Judge Richard “Dick” Lee in the “Buckeye Three” case, in which Scott prevailed.

While Nauman drew ire from the public, he understood that came with the territory of being a federal judge, and he tried to be as fair as possible, Cyndy said.

“I remember when Popsy (Nauman) was trying to decide on the integration plan, he traveled all over this country studying other integration plans to try to find the best that would have the least harm and would impact young children the least,” she said.

“It was very important to him that the plan he set in place didn’t bus any children under the sixth grade, so you didn’t have babies on buses like so many of the plans did (around the nation).”

Judge Scott’s desegregation plan, which included the creation of sixth-grade centers, led to extensive busing for some students in grades 6-12.

“The press coverage got pretty hard on him, and Jock tried to encourage him: ‘Pop, sit down and talk to these people and work with these people so they understand what you’re doing.’

“He (Nauman) said, ‘You know, it’s not important that I be liked. It’s important that I do a good job.’ I’ll never forget that,” Cyndy said.

“Of course, Jock didn’t completely agree with him because he wanted him to be liked, but Popsy was right. He had his eyes on the goal.”

When Jock was in the Legislature, he didn’t necessarily vote along party lines and wasn’t afraid to go against protocol.

“His first year down there, somebody said, ‘Do you realize Jock submitted his own state budget for next year? Nobody does that but the governor!’ And I thought, ‘Well, that’s Jock,’” Cyndy said.

Jock was successful in changing House rules so that new bills had to be distributed to representatives and had to include the fiscal impact of the bills.

“When he first went down there, there were no bills on your desk the night before to let you know what you were voting on the next day, and Jock changed that. He said, ‘We want a binder of every bill coming up the next day to take it home and study it and know what we’re voting on.’ And someone in the Legislature said, ‘He’s the only one who takes that thing home and reads it,’” Cyndy said.

“He was so independent, and he was a trailblazer, and he loved politics and wanted to improve things and really felt that he could. He loved those years of politics,” she said.

Following Jock’s death, Woody Jenkins, who served with him in the Legislature, said Jock “was ever a guardian of the rights of people. He was fearless, ready to take on any governor or powerful group that threatened the best interests of the state. He made us all laugh ... and think.”

At Judge Scott’s funeral in 2001, his nephew, the Rev. LaVerne “Pike” Thomas, said Nauman “knew where he was supposed to be. … He knew what he believed. He knew what was right and what needed to be done, and he never shirked from doing that.”

Know To Go

What: Louisiana Political Hall of Fame induction ceremony and banquet.

When: Feb. 7 (reception from 4-5:30 p.m.; banquet at 6 p.m.)

Where: Reception at Louisiana Political Museum, 499 E. Main St. , Winnfield; banquet at Winnfield Civic Center, 2000 S. Jones St.

Banquet tickets: $75

Information: (318) 628-5928