Prominent retired faculty member leaves University tradition

Chris Wilcox
Staff Writer

The University community suffered the loss of a prominent faculty member Feb. 10. Arlie Scott, 92, retired professor of agriculture at Murray State and Purple Heart recipient, died at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, Ky.

Scott served in the U.S. Army for five years. During his time he was wounded, taken as a Prisoner of War in North Africa for two years and also spent nearly five months as a German POW.

He left the Army in August of 1945, married the late Jayne Price and attended the University of Kentucky where he received his Master of Science degree in Agriculture in the spring of 1949.

He began teaching at Murray State in the fall of 1949 and retired after 35 years of service to Murray State. Scott taught animal science and agriculture English.

In a lifetime full of achievements, his most prominent at Murray State included establishing the Agriculture Field Day, co-sponsoring the Alpha Zeta fraternity chapter at Murray State and establishing Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity at Murray State. In 2007 he was granted the Murray State University School of Agriculture Support Award.

Tony Brannon, Dean of the Hutson School of Agriculture, said Scott made the lives of everyone he impacted richer.

“He was one of the great icons of Murray State Agriculture,” he said. “He devoted his life to Murray State after serving our country and laid a strong foundation for the future of agriculture.”

Brannon said out of all the condolences toward Scott, one in particular was said the most-that he was a very fine gentleman.

Jeremiah Johnson, president of the Student Government Association and member of Alpha Gamma Rho, said Scott was a mentor to him and his whole fraternity.

“He started many programs and several clubs at Murray State,” he said. “He pushed the students to be the best they could be and to help the community whenever possible.”

Johnson said his original push to become SGA president came from Scott.

“He pushed me to be the best I could be and told me to think big, reach high and strive hard,” Johnson said.

Funeral services for Scott were held Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home with the Rev. Jim Stahler conducting the ceremony.

Burial followed in the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville, Ky., at 2 p.m.

 

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