Madam Speaker, it is not often that I have the honor to rise and give tribute to a living legend. Today, I have that honor. Mr. Leland S. ``Sandy'' Scott, who resides in my district is indeed a living legend in our community. Mr. Scott was…
Madam Speaker, it is not often that I have the honor to rise and give tribute to a living legend. Today, I have that honor. Mr. Leland S. ``Sandy'' Scott, who resides in my district is indeed a living legend in our community. Mr. Scott was born in Greenville County, South Carolina. He graduated from Parker High School in 1960. He served as drum major for the marching bands at both Parker High School and Furman University. He later earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from Lander University.
Mr. Scott served as Band Director at Ellen Woodside High School from 1962-1963 and at Belton High School from 1963-1965.
In 1965, Mr. Scott, came to Abbeville High School to take over as Director of Bands. It is a position he would retain until 1982. Throughout these years he touched many lives and helped mold a generation of students. While at Abbeville he established the Southeastern Marching Contest which drew some of the top bands in the country to Abbeville.
His Grenadier Band at Abbeville was the only high school band in the state and one of a few nationwide to feature a bagpipe regiment.
The Abbeville High School band under his direction became one of the most successful competitive bands in high school marching band history. Under Mr. Scott's leadership, the Abbeville High School band won the South Carolina Band Director's Association State Class Marching Band Championships for eight consecutive years in Classes A, AA and AAA. His Abbeville band won the National Cherry Blossom Championships in Field Show and Parade Competition, and it won in the National De Soto Festival in Bradenton, Florida, including the Grand Championship. His band also won the Governor's Cup in St. Petersburg, Florida at the Festival of States and the Heart of St. Petersburg plaque twice.
Under Mr. Scott's leadership, the Abbeville band received many other awards including: Grand Champion of the Furman University marching contest; First Place Class AAA Carolinas' Carousel in Charlotte, N.C.; Double Superior rating at the South Carolina State Music Festival; Third Place Overall at the Greatest Bands in Dixie Contest as part of the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana.
In 1977, under his leadership the Abbeville Band represented South Carolina at the Presidential Inaugural Parade of President Jimmy Carter, an event that the students worked hard to raise the money to be able to attend.
Sandy's professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, South Carolina Music Educators Association, the South Carolina Band Directors Association, Phi Mu Alpha, Gamma Eta Chapter; and Phi Beta Mu, Theta Chapter. He served on the Marching Band Committee and the All-State Audition Committee. He has actively participated in civic affairs, was President of the Abbeville Rotary Club, and was President of the Abbeville Chamber of Commerce. He has served on the City Council as Mayor Pro Tem. In 1971, he was named Abbeville's ``Young Educator of the Year'' and the South Carolina ``Young Educator of the Year'' in 1972. In 1975 he received Abbeville's ``Young Man of the Year Award''.
Mr. Scott served as a band clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States. He also served as Minister of Music for three churches; Forestville Baptists of Greenville, South Side Baptist of Abbeville and Callie Self Memorial Baptist of Greenwood. Having retired from teaching, Mr. Scott now serves as Senior Pastor of Callie Self Memorial Baptist Church of Greenwood.
Mr. Scott and his wife, Verlene O'Kelley Scott have two children, Keith and Lisa and four grandchildren. He is also a member of the South Carolina Baptist Singing Churchmen.
On April 5, 2009, more than 150 band alumni and their families gathered together in Abbeville to honor Mr. Scott. They presented a bronze plaque that will be permanently displayed in Abbeville as a tribute to Mr. Scott. Present to give tribute to Mr. Scott were his former Band Director from Parker High School, Mr. James Senn and Mrs. Virginia Ferguson, who served as instructor to the Color Guard and Bagpipe regiment. Former band members traveled from as far away as California, Virginia and Maryland to honor Mr. Scott and to see old friends.
Mr. Scott brought much more than music to Abbeville High School and his students. For many students, it was their first chance to travel outside the county, their first chance to belong to a ``winning team.'' In addition to learning to play a musical instrument, his students learned the importance of hard work, dedication, commitment to a group activity, the benefits of setting goals, school spirit, the power of positive thinking, and patriotism. A favorite saying that his students recall even 30 years later is ``If you can dream it you can achieve it.''
Mr. Scott did not just bring his students together, but brought an entire community together. He brought parents as well as members of the community together to support and enrich the band program. Abbeville is a better community because of Sandy Scott. Music Education in South Carolina is better because of Sandy Scott.
The lessons these students learned have served them well as adults who have gone on to serve in their communities. His students have gone on to be doctors, nurses, paralegals, business owners, teachers, federal employees, congressional staff, first responders, ministers, members of the armed services, and even music directors.
I am honored to pay tribute to my constituent, Mr. Leland Sanders ``Sandy'' Scott.