[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1436]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    A CONGRESSIONAL TRIBUTE TO SANDY SCOTT, FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE 
          ABBEVILLE GRENADIER BAND, ABBEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. J. GRESHAM BARRETT

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 16, 2009

  Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, it is not often that I 
have the honor to rise and give tribute to a living legend. Today, I 
have that honor. Mr. Leland S. ``Sandy'' Scott, who resides in my 
district is indeed a living legend in our community. Mr. Scott was born 
in Greenville County, South Carolina. He graduated from Parker High 
School in 1960. He served as drum major for the marching bands at both 
Parker High School and Furman University. He later earned his Bachelor 
of Arts Degree in Music Education from Lander University.
  Mr. Scott served as Band Director at Ellen Woodside High School from 
1962-1963 and at Belton High School from 1963-1965.
  In 1965, Mr. Scott, came to Abbeville High School to take over as 
Director of Bands. It is a position he would retain until 1982. 
Throughout these years he touched many lives and helped mold a 
generation of students. While at Abbeville he established the 
Southeastern Marching Contest which drew some of the top bands in the 
country to Abbeville.
  His Grenadier Band at Abbeville was the only high school band in the 
state and one of a few nationwide to feature a bagpipe regiment.
  The Abbeville High School band under his direction became one of the 
most successful competitive bands in high school marching band history. 
Under Mr. Scott's leadership, the Abbeville High School band won the 
South Carolina Band Director's Association State Class Marching Band 
Championships for eight consecutive years in Classes A, AA and AAA. His 
Abbeville band won the National Cherry Blossom Championships in Field 
Show and Parade Competition, and it won in the National De Soto 
Festival in Bradenton, Florida, including the Grand Championship. His 
band also won the Governor's Cup in St. Petersburg, Florida at the 
Festival of States and the Heart of St. Petersburg plaque twice.
  Under Mr. Scott's leadership, the Abbeville band received many other 
awards including: Grand Champion of the Furman University marching 
contest; First Place Class AAA Carolinas' Carousel in Charlotte, N.C.; 
Double Superior rating at the South Carolina State Music Festival; 
Third Place Overall at the Greatest Bands in Dixie Contest as part of 
the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana.
  In 1977, under his leadership the Abbeville Band represented South 
Carolina at the Presidential Inaugural Parade of President Jimmy 
Carter, an event that the students worked hard to raise the money to be 
able to attend.
  Sandy's professional affiliations include the National Association 
for Music Education, South Carolina Music Educators Association, the 
South Carolina Band Directors Association, Phi Mu Alpha, Gamma Eta 
Chapter; and Phi Beta Mu, Theta Chapter. He served on the Marching Band 
Committee and the All-State Audition Committee. He has actively 
participated in civic affairs, was President of the Abbeville Rotary 
Club, and was President of the Abbeville Chamber of Commerce. He has 
served on the City Council as Mayor Pro Tem. In 1971, he was named 
Abbeville's ``Young Educator of the Year'' and the South Carolina 
``Young Educator of the Year'' in 1972. In 1975 he received Abbeville's 
``Young Man of the Year Award''.
  Mr. Scott served as a band clinician and adjudicator throughout the 
United States. He also served as Minister of Music for three churches; 
Forestville Baptists of Greenville, South Side Baptist of Abbeville and 
Callie Self Memorial Baptist of Greenwood. Having retired from 
teaching, Mr. Scott now serves as Senior Pastor of Callie Self Memorial 
Baptist Church of Greenwood.
  Mr. Scott and his wife, Verlene O'Kelley Scott have two children, 
Keith and Lisa and four grandchildren. He is also a member of the South 
Carolina Baptist Singing Churchmen.
  On April 5, 2009, more than 150 band alumni and their families 
gathered together in Abbeville to honor Mr. Scott. They presented a 
bronze plaque that will be permanently displayed in Abbeville as a 
tribute to Mr. Scott. Present to give tribute to Mr. Scott were his 
former Band Director from Parker High School, Mr. James Senn and Mrs. 
Virginia Ferguson, who served as instructor to the Color Guard and 
Bagpipe regiment. Former band members traveled from as far away as 
California, Virginia and Maryland to honor Mr. Scott and to see old 
friends.
  Mr. Scott brought much more than music to Abbeville High School and 
his students. For many students, it was their first chance to travel 
outside the county, their first chance to belong to a ``winning team.'' 
In addition to learning to play a musical instrument, his students 
learned the importance of hard work, dedication, commitment to a group 
activity, the benefits of setting goals, school spirit, the power of 
positive thinking, and patriotism. A favorite saying that his students 
recall even 30 years later is ``If you can dream it you can achieve 
it.''
  Mr. Scott did not just bring his students together, but brought an 
entire community together. He brought parents as well as members of the 
community together to support and enrich the band program. Abbeville is 
a better community because of Sandy Scott. Music Education in South 
Carolina is better because of Sandy Scott.
  The lessons these students learned have served them well as adults 
who have gone on to serve in their communities. His students have gone 
on to be doctors, nurses, paralegals, business owners, teachers, 
federal employees, congressional staff, first responders, ministers, 
members of the armed services, and even music directors.
  I am honored to pay tribute to my constituent, Mr. Leland Sanders 
``Sandy'' Scott.

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