Professor Greg Scott (1957-2011)

Professor Gregory J. Scott of the University of Missouri School of Law died unexpectedly on Monday afternoon, August 22, 2011.  He suffered a heart attack while on his way to teach an organizational ethics class on the first day of the new law school semester.

Professor Scott joined the faculty at the University of Missouri as an adjunct professor in 1996 and jointed the full-time faculty in 1999.  Before he began teaching, he served in the litigation division of the Office of the Missouri Attorney General and as a litigator and real estate attorney in the Kansas City law firm of Swanson-Midgley.   

Hewas a professor of legal research and writing and also taught in the Trulaske College of Business.  His courses included Legal Research and Writing, Advocacy, Trial Practice, and other subjects such as Business Ethics and Corporations Law. He received the Graduate Professional Council's Gold Chalk Award for Excellence in Teaching.  He also received the John A. Riggs, Jr., Excellence in MBA Teaching Award.

Greg was actively involved with scouting for more than forty years.  He was an Eagle Scout and later became an adult leader of Troop 707. 

The Dean of the University of Missouri School of Law, Larry Dessem, was quoted in an article by Janese Silvey in the Columbia Tribune:

“The width of Greg’s smile was only exceeded by the size of his heart, and just this past week we saw Greg at his best in welcoming our newest students to the Law School,” Dessem said. “Greg would have wanted us to remember him at his best and to smile through our tears. Please do so and say a prayer for someone who was such an inspiration and friend to us all.”

Professor John Mollenkamp, who shared the news of Greg's passing with members of the Legal Writing Listserve, also shared the following story about Greg, which we reprint here with his permission:

I know that not everyone knew Greg.  He presented occasionally at regional conferences and [conference of the Legal Writing Insitute].  Maybe you saw one of those presentations and know that he was an excellent teacher.  He taught with humor, with concern, with wisdom, and with zeal.  If you haven’t had the pleasure of being office neighbors with him (as I did from 2004-2007), you wouldn’t know that he had boundless energy when it came to student conferences.  He never tired of helping new 1Ls learn the basic skills that would serve them so well throughout their careers.  He gave himself over to teaching in a way that very, very few do.

 

In a final explanation of what a great guy Greg was, I’ll share this story.  On Sunday last week, I found that I no longer had an electronic copy of a handout that I use in orientation.  I had a paper copy, which I had copied for the students, but I wasn’t going to be able to post the electronic on Blackboard.  I think Greg may have been the original author.  Or, maybe it was Melody Daily, the director at Missouri-Columbia.  But, I suspected Greg would have it electronically, too, and that he would be working on a Sunday afternoon.  So, I e-mailed Greg to ask if he had a copy.  Though I’ve been gone from Mizzou for four years, and though he was himself busy with the beginning of his own semester, he e-mailed it to me within a few minutes.  On Monday, when I returned from the orientation lecture where I shared Greg’s handout with a new crop of students, I got the horrible news that Greg had died.  But, in his last moments on this planet, he was doing what he did so well—teaching, helping, and sharing with others.  He is greatly missed.

 

John Mollenkamp

Clinical Professor of Law and Director of Academic Support

Cornell Law School

We extend our condolensces to Greg's family, friends, faculty colleagues, students, and the boy scouts who were such an important part of his life.

An obituary in the Columbia Daily Tribune stated that in lieu of flowers, Greg suggested contributions to Troop 707, c/o Laura Sandstedt, 501 Overland Court, Columbia, Mo., 65203, or the Central Missouri Humane Society, 616 Big Bear Blvd., Columbia, Mo., 65202.  It also said that "You also can honor Greg by simply grabbing every opportunity to live life and help those around you."

A Facebook Group has been set up for Professor Scott as well.

(mew)

NEW:  Click here for another tribute to Greg Scott on the ADR Prof Blog.