Kermit Scott
Encyclopedia
Theodore Kermit Scott Jr. (October 18, 1936 - May 26, 2008), was an American
counselor
and professor
of philosophy
, was a childhood friend of Muppets creator Jim Henson
and was once believed to be the namesake
of Kermit the Frog
.
, on October 18, 1936. He grew up in Leland, Mississippi
, which was also the hometown of Jim Henson
, who would one day create the Muppets
. Scott's brother-in-law, Aaron Moss, recalled that the relationship in which Scott and Henson had as children, "Kermit had moved to Leland at an early age. Those two kids met and were childhood buddies. They spent a lot of time running up and down the creek, like most kids did."
Henson and his family moved away from Leland, and subsequently the two lost contact with one another. Years later, Scott learned that Henson had named one of his most famous Muppets Kermit the Frog. However, both Jim Henson and The Jim Henson Company stated that Kermit the Frog was not named after Kermit Scott.
Scott enrolled in Millsaps College
in Jackson, Mississippi
, and also studied in Germany
on a scholarship. He received his doctorate
in philosophy from Columbia University
in New York City
.
He taught philosophy as a professor at Yale University
and Millsaps College
. He then taught at Purdue University
for 36 years. Scott retired from teaching to pursue a master's degree
in social work
, which he earned in 1993. He pursued his second career as a counselor. Scott and his wife, Aadron Scott, co-founded two organizations as to advocate for the poor, the Food Bank
of Lafayette, Indiana
, and the Welfare Rights Organization.
Scott died on May 26, 2008, at the age of 71 in Lynchburg, Virginia
. He was survived by his wife, Aadron Scott, whom he had been married to for over 50 years. He was also survived by his children, David Scott, Aadron Rausch and Tracey Scott. Scott had been a resident of Monroe, Virginia.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
counselor
Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed professional counselor is a licensure for mental health professionals. The exact title varies by state, but the other most frequently used title is licensed mental health counselor . Several U.S. states, including Illinois, Maine, and Tennessee, have implemented a two-tier system whereby...
and professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, was a childhood friend of Muppets creator Jim Henson
Jim Henson
James Maury "Jim" Henson was an American puppeteer best known as the creator of The Muppets. As a puppeteer, Henson performed in various television programs, such as Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, films such as The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper, and created advanced puppets for...
and was once believed to be the namesake
Namesake
Namesake is a term used to characterize a person, place, thing, quality, action, state, or idea that has the same, or a similar, name to another....
of Kermit the Frog
Kermit the Frog
Kermit the Frog is puppeteer Jim Henson's most famous Muppet creation, first introduced in 1955. He is the protagonist of many Muppet projects, most notably as the host of The Muppet Show, and has appeared in various sketches on Sesame Street, in commercials and in public service announcements over...
.
Biography
Scott was born in Pontotoc, MississippiPontotoc, Mississippi
Pontotoc is a city in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, United States. Pontotoc is west of the much larger city of Tupelo. The population was 5,625 at the 2010 census...
, on October 18, 1936. He grew up in Leland, Mississippi
Leland, Mississippi
Leland is a city in Washington County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 4,790 at the 2008 census.The town is located in the heart of the Mississippi Delta on the banks of Deer Creek, which is decorated each Christmas season with floats that bring visitors from afar to view the...
, which was also the hometown of Jim Henson
Jim Henson
James Maury "Jim" Henson was an American puppeteer best known as the creator of The Muppets. As a puppeteer, Henson performed in various television programs, such as Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, films such as The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper, and created advanced puppets for...
, who would one day create the Muppets
The Muppets
The Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson starting in 1954–55. Although the term is often used to refer to any puppet that resembles the distinctive style of The Muppet Show, the term is both an informal name and legal trademark owned by the Walt Disney Company in reference...
. Scott's brother-in-law, Aaron Moss, recalled that the relationship in which Scott and Henson had as children, "Kermit had moved to Leland at an early age. Those two kids met and were childhood buddies. They spent a lot of time running up and down the creek, like most kids did."
Henson and his family moved away from Leland, and subsequently the two lost contact with one another. Years later, Scott learned that Henson had named one of his most famous Muppets Kermit the Frog. However, both Jim Henson and The Jim Henson Company stated that Kermit the Frog was not named after Kermit Scott.
Scott enrolled in Millsaps College
Millsaps College
Millsaps College is a private liberal arts college located in Jackson, Mississippi. Founded in 1890, the college is recognized as one of the country's best private colleges dedicated to undergraduate teaching and educating the whole individual. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Millsaps...
in Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, and also studied in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
on a scholarship. He received his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in philosophy from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
He taught philosophy as a professor at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and Millsaps College
Millsaps College
Millsaps College is a private liberal arts college located in Jackson, Mississippi. Founded in 1890, the college is recognized as one of the country's best private colleges dedicated to undergraduate teaching and educating the whole individual. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Millsaps...
. He then taught at Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
for 36 years. Scott retired from teaching to pursue a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
, which he earned in 1993. He pursued his second career as a counselor. Scott and his wife, Aadron Scott, co-founded two organizations as to advocate for the poor, the Food Bank
Food bank
A food bank or foodbank is a non-profit, charitable organization that distributes mostly donated food to a wide variety of agencies that in turn feed the hungry. The largest sources of food are for-profit growers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers who in the normal course of business have...
of Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
, and the Welfare Rights Organization.
Scott died on May 26, 2008, at the age of 71 in Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
. He was survived by his wife, Aadron Scott, whom he had been married to for over 50 years. He was also survived by his children, David Scott, Aadron Rausch and Tracey Scott. Scott had been a resident of Monroe, Virginia.