Thomas Howard Scott
Associate Professor Emeritus Thomas Howard Scott, who served on the faculty in the Department of Nuclear Engineering from 1986–2008, has passed away at the age of 88.
Scott was much beloved in the department and the college, receiving college-level awards for both outstanding teacher of the year award and outstanding advisor. His talents as an advisor were also recognized with a Chancellor’s Award for advising.
Professor Richard Bennett, the director of the Jerry E. Stoneking engageTM Engineering Fundamentals program for first-year engineering students, remembers that Scott was involved in the beginning of the program, which provides a supportive environment for first-year students. Scott was the one and only advisor at that time.
“Tom helped a lot of students,” said Bennett. “When we first started our Success Enhancement Program in EF 151, whereby students could earn points back on the first exam by doing certain things, Tom would individually meet with the struggling students. He absolutely loved to do that, and I know he helped a lot of students get on track and be successful.”
To this day, Engineering Fundamentals students get to see the former faculty member in one of their homework assignments, which features Scott, who was an avid collector of antique fire equipment, leaning his arm on one of his antique fire trucks.
Scott also served as the official photographer of the Oak Ridge Fire Department, and the department escorted the urn with his ashes for a final ride to his memorial service.