By: Kye Kocher
Fayetteville, Ark. (UATV)- After spending four years of college together, many students find that those years in the classroom turn into a lifetime of friendship. Many UATV Alumni are remembering one of their best friends who they met in the newsroom of Kimpel Hall.
Chris Scott died at the age of 45 on January 17th following an illness. Scott graduated from the University of Arkansas with a BA in Broadcast Journalism in 2000.
Scott spent much of his time at UATV, the University of Arkansas student-run television station. He eventually served as the first UATV Sports Director. His friend Bryan Thomason said some of his best memories with Scott revolve around sports.
“Before Chris, I was never known for being a massive sports fan, but he sure made me into one! His enthusiasm and passion were infectious,” Thomason said.
While in college, Scott and Thomason both worked together to cover many games. Thomason said there was always a sport in season that Scott wanted to cover. He said that covering the Arkansas football team’s win over Tennessee and watching all the students storm the field in 1999 is a memory that will last forever.
“After we secured the equipment, we marched ourselves down to Dickson with everyone else to sign the goal post that was propped up against Ozark Brewing Company (Modern day Tin Roof),” Thomason said.
Scott’s friends say he accomplished a lot throughout his life and turned his passion for sports and journalism into his career after graduation. His friend Gina Watkins said he was a driven student who took on a lot throughout his four years in college.
“His work with KATV, Paul Eells, and the Rollin with Nolan show while he was a student was such an accomplishment that he so humbly did day in and day out,” Watkins said.
After graduation, Scott accepted a position as a news producer at KATV Channel 7 in Little Rock, AR. While he was there, he worked his way up into the position of Executive Producer. After many years there, Scott went on to work at KARK/FOX16 in Little Rock.
One of Scott’s Broadcast Journalism professors Larry Foley said that Scott was respected by so many people. Foley said that Scott was beloved beyond measure by all his classmates. He said Scott remained, “the same respectable guy after he graduated college”, and that the comments he received about Scott on social media this week were a great testimony to that.
“People began to chime in on Facebook and Twitter about what a genuinely great guy, talented producer, and what a calming influence he was,” Foley said.
Thomason said he will treasure the memories he made with Scott, saying he will treasure all the milestone moments. From Cardinals games to birthday parties, Thomason says he will be forever grateful that their paths crossed in the UATV newsroom.
“I know that Chris continued throughout his life and career as the same guy I worked with and became friends with at UATV,” Thomason said.