W. Ray Scott
Encyclopedia
Walter Ray Scott, Sr., usually known as W. Ray Scott (March 19, 1923 - February 23, 2008) 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 1956-1960, Scott was the elected municipal finance commissioner.
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
.
At NSU, he met his future wife, the former Betty Jean McCarthy (July 21, 1929 - March 21, 1999).
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. Interment was in Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches.
Scott was succeeded as mayor by Robert B. "Bobby" DeBlieux
, a business
man and historical preservationist
, who served a single term from 1976-1980.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Natchitoches
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Natchitoches is a city in 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 Natchitoches Indian tribe. The City of Natchitoches was first incorporated on February...
, the oldest city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. As mayor, he is primarily remembered for his work with the administration of Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Edwin Washington Edwards in procuring physical expansion and university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
status for Northwestern State University
Northwestern State University
Northwestern State University, known as NSU, is a four-year public university primarily situated in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a nursing campus in Shreveport and general campuses in Leesville/Fort Polk and Alexandria. It is a part of the University of Louisiana System.NSU was founded in 1884 as...
, formerly Northwestern State College. In addition, he worked to establish the municipal water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
supply from Sibley Lake in Natchitoches. From 1956-1960, Scott was the elected municipal finance commissioner.
Scott was born to Mary D. Scott in Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill, Louisiana
Pleasant Hill is a village in Sabine Parish in western Louisiana, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 786. It is best known as the site of The Battle of Pleasant Hill, fought in April 1864.- History :...
in Sabine Parish. He served four years in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, having been stationed at Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
. After his military service, Scott attended then NSC on a basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
scholarship and obtained a bachelor of science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
.
At NSU, he met his future wife, the former Betty Jean McCarthy (July 21, 1929 - March 21, 1999).
For nearly a half century, Scott operated his Cane River
Cane River
Cane River is a lake and 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 culture that has centers upon the National Historic Landmark Melrose...
Insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
Company. He was a director of City Bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
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
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
. 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. Interment was in Memory Lawn Cemetery in Natchitoches.
Scott was succeeded as mayor by Robert B. "Bobby" DeBlieux
Robert DeBlieux
Robert Buford DeBlieux, usually known as Bobby DeBlieux , was an historian, preservationist, painter, author, businessman, and a former Democratic mayor of Natchitoches, the oldest city in the U.S...
, a business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
man and historical preservationist
Preservationist
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...
, who served a single term from 1976-1980.