W. Ray Scott

Last updated
Walter Ray Scott, Sr.
Mayor of Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, USA
In office
1960–1976
Preceded byFrank Kees (1948–1960)
Succeeded by Robert Buford "Bobby" DeBlieux (1976–1980)
Finance Commissioner of Natchitoches, Louisiana
In office
1956–1960
Personal details
Born(1923-03-19)March 19, 1923
Pleasant Hill, Sabine Parish, Louisiana
DiedFebruary 23, 2008(2008-02-23) (aged 84)
Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana
Nationality American
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s)Betty Jane McCarthy Scott (1929–1999, married 1947 – her death)
ChildrenWalter Ray Scott, Jr. (deceased), Marianne Scott James, Tommy Scott, Nancy Scott Long, Joseph Kent Scott, and Jeannie Scott
Occupation Insurance executive
Mayor Scott is credited with procuring expanded facilities and university status for Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Mr. W. Ray Scott Photo of walter ray scott.jpg
Mr. W. Ray Scott

Walter Ray Scott, Sr. (March 19, 1923 February 23, 2008), usually known as W. Ray Scott, was from 1960 to 1976 the Democratic mayor of Natchitoches, the oldest city in Louisiana. As mayor, he is primarily remembered for his work with the administration of Governor Edwin Washington Edwards in procuring physical expansion and university status for Northwestern State University, formerly Northwestern State College. In addition, he worked to establish the municipal water supply from Sibley Lake in Natchitoches. From 1956 to 1960, Scott was the elected municipal finance commissioner. [1]

Democratic Party (United States) political party in the United States

The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. Tracing its heritage back to Thomas Jefferson and James Madison's Democratic-Republican Party, the modern-day Democratic Party was founded around 1828 by supporters of Andrew Jackson, making it the world's oldest active political party.

In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town.

Natchitoches, Louisiana City in Louisiana, United States

Natchitoches is a small city and the parish seat of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. Established in 1714 by Louis Juchereau de St. Denis as part of French Louisiana, the community was named after the indigenous Natchitoches people.

Biography

Scott was born to Mary D. Scott in Pleasant Hill in Sabine Parish. He served four years in the United States Army during World War II, having been stationed at Iwo Jima. After his military service, Scott attended then NSC on a basketball scholarship and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. [1] At NSU, he met his future wife, the former Betty Jean McCarthy (July 21, 1929 – March 21, 1999). [2]

Pleasant Hill, Sabine Parish, Louisiana Village in Louisiana, United States

Pleasant Hill is a village in Sabine Parish in western Louisiana, United States. As of the 2010 census, the village population was 1,232. It is best known as the site of The Battle of Pleasant Hill, fought in April 1864.

United States Army Land warfare branch of the United States Armed Forces

The United States Army (USA) is the land warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution. As the oldest and most senior branch of the U.S. military in order of precedence, the modern U.S. Army has its roots in the Continental Army, which was formed to fight the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783)—before the United States of America was established as a country. After the Revolutionary War, the Congress of the Confederation created the United States Army on 3 June 1784 to replace the disbanded Continental Army. The United States Army considers itself descended from the Continental Army, and dates its institutional inception from the origin of that armed force in 1775.

World War II 1939–1945 global war

World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The vast majority of the world's countries—including all the great powers—eventually formed two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. A state of total war emerged, directly involving more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. The major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources. World War II was the deadliest conflict in human history, marked by 50 to 85 million fatalities, most of whom were civilians in the Soviet Union and China. It included massacres, the genocide of the Holocaust, strategic bombing, premeditated death from starvation and disease, and the only use of nuclear weapons in war.

For nearly a half century, Scott operated his Cane River Insurance Company. He was a director of City Bank and Trust Company in Natchitoches for twenty-eight years. He was a founding member of the Agitators Club and was also active in the Kiwanis Club. Scott died in a Shreveport hospital. The Scotts married in 1947 and reared six children: Walter Ray Scott, Jr. (deceased), Marianne Scott James, Tommy Scott, Nancy Scott Long, Joseph Kent Scott, and Jeannie Scott. He also had sixteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Scott died less than a month prior to his 85th birthday. He is interred at Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches. [1]

Cane River river in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana

Cane River is a 30-mile-long (48 km) river formed from a portion of the Red River that is located in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. In the 19th and 20th centuries, it has been best known as the site of a historic Creole de couleur (multiracial) culture that has centers upon the National Historic Landmark Melrose Plantation and nearby St. Augustine Church St. Augustine Parish Church.

Insurance equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another in exchange for payment

Insurance is a means of protection from financial loss. It is a form of risk management, primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent or uncertain loss.

Bank financial institution

A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates credit. Lending activities can be performed either directly or indirectly through capital markets. Due to their importance in the financial stability of a country, banks are highly regulated in most countries. Most nations have institutionalized a system known as fractional reserve banking under which banks hold liquid assets equal to only a portion of their current liabilities. In addition to other regulations intended to ensure liquidity, banks are generally subject to minimum capital requirements based on an international set of capital standards, known as the Basel Accords.

Scott was elected mayor in the Democratic primary held on December 5, 1959. He defeated a retired NSU professor, H. J. Sudbury, 2,338 to 646. The incumbent, Frank Kees, did not seek reelection. [3]

After sixteen years, Scott was succeeded as mayor by Robert B. "Bobby" DeBlieux, a businessman and historical preservationist, who served a single term from 1976 to 1980.

Robert Buford DeBlieux, usually known as Bobby DeBlieux, was a historian, preservationist, painter, an author, businessman, and a former Democratic mayor of Natchitoches, the oldest city in the U.S. state of Louisiana.

Business organization involved in commercial, industrial, or professional activity

Business is the activity of making one's living or making money by producing or buying and selling products. Simply put, it is "any activity or enterprise entered into for profit. It does not mean it is a company, a corporation, partnership, or have any such formal organization, but it can range from a street peddler to General Motors."

Preservationist is generally understood to mean historic preservationist: one who advocates to preserve architecturally or historically significant buildings, structures, objects, or sites from demolition or degradation. Historic preservation usually refers to the preservation of the built environment, not to the preservation of, for instance, primeval forests or wilderness.

References

Preceded by
Frank Kees
Mayor of Natchitoches, Louisiana

Walter Ray Scott, Sr.
1960–1976

Succeeded by
Robert Buford "Bobby" DeBlieux