Charles “Red” Scott 2009 Distinguished Alumni
Published or Revised October 12, 2009
Charles "Red" Scott has been selected as the 2009 Paris Junior College Distinguished Alumni. A 1947 graduate of PJC, Scott is presently the chairman of the board of Vistage Florida, an organization that assists senior corporate executives in maximizing their business potential. Scott will be honored at the 85th PJC Homecoming Nov. 6-7. "Charles 'Red' Scott is an exceptional selection as this year's Distinguished Alumni," noted PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin. "He is renowned throughout the business world as a leader, and we are honored to call him one of our own." Leadership has long been Scott's forté as he served as class president at Paris High School and went on to be Student Government President at PJC. Scott still credits his PJC campaign manager Jim Miles for his successful election. He also appreciates former PJC President Dr. J.R. McLemore for awarding the athletic scholarship in track he says allowed him to attend PJC. Following graduation from PJC, his leadership earned him a scholarship to the University of Texas, where he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1949. In a 1984 [i]Paris News[/i] article, Scott said that had it not been for scholarships, he would still be "pumping gas in Paris!" He began a career in journalism working for a time at [i]The Dallas Morning News[/i]. Through his sales skills, Scott's interest shifted to finance. He and a friend formed a securities firm in Dallas and by 1962 he was CEO of Roberts, Scott and Company Inc. in San Diego. Under his leadership the firm, a member of the New York Stock Exchange, rose in ranking from 432 to 62nd in size among NYSE member firms. For over 50 years, Scott has served in key positions at several Fortune 500 and top 100 growth companies. He was president and CEO of INTERMARK Inc., growing that company into a profitable, diversified enterprise under his guidance. Next he was named as president and CEO of Actava Group, a multi-billion dollar Atlanta-based NYSE company. Later he served as CEO of The Executive Committee (TEC) of Florida, and today is chairman of the Board of Vistage Florida, which offers programs and affiliation for chief executives. A much sought after board member, Scott has served on the board of directors of Pier 1 Imports Inc., Mission West Properties, Sunbelt Nursery Group, Ridgewood Properties and US West NewVector Group. He served as the chair for the $100 million Fund for Greatness for Scripps Memorial Hospitals Foundation and of the San Diego Padre Community Advisory Council. Scott has served on numerous civic, charitable and industrial organizations and has received several distinguished awards, including the San Diego "Citizen of the Year" honor. In 1984 The Horatio Alger Association named him to the Class of 1984, honoring elite leaders throughout the United States. Previous Alger recipients include Tom Landry, President Ronald Reagan and Sam Walton. Scott has spent a career researching what makes a person successful. In doing so, he notes, "To be successful you have to have a feeling of being lucky, an ability to dream bold dreams, a dedication of hard work, a sense of urgency, an enthusiastic attitude, a willingness to take some risks, a feeling of high self-esteem and a belief in a higher being." Known for his public speaking, Scott continues to "give back" in sharing these premises to as many as 15,000 high school students annually. Scott and wife Katherine make their home in La Jolla, Calif.