In August of 2002, Lonnie Scott told his friends at J. Everett Light that he had pancreatic cancer and only a few months to live.  With that, the staff and students of J. Everett Light Career Center began an amazing journey that was to last three years and was a true lesson in courage for everyone whose life he touched.  For seven years, we were privileged to have Lonnie Scott as our welding Instructor.  Yes, he knew his subject, but more than that, he knew people.  He knew how to take a student that wasn’t experiencing success anywhere else and give him confidence and a career.  To him, all of his students – his “goons” as he called them – were special. 

Lonnie Scott came to J. Everett Light in 1998.  Before that, he had been a journeyman Welder for Amtrak in Beech Grove.  Only four months after he began teaching, he had been named Employee of the Month for aligning his curriculum with the Welding jobs his students would be eligible for after completing his course and for developing the regional VICA Welding contest.  Mr. Scott was named J. Everett Light Teacher of the Year in 2002 and Rotary Vocational Teacher of the Year in 2003.  He also received the Dan Rayschick Award at the 2003 Midwest Team Welding Tournament for “outstanding contributions and continued professionalism in the field of Vocational Education.”  For three years (2000, 2001, and 2002), Mr. Scott advised the student team that won the State Championship in the IMSTEA High Mileage competition. 

J. Everett Light Career Center staff will remember Lonnie Scott as the man who cooked the hot dogs at Field Day every year, who never failed to open the door for a lady, who took the time to sift through Veterinary Assisting Teacher Kandy Smitha’s vacuum cleaner bag when she lost the diamond from her ring, who always hosted the Spring cookout in the Welding Shop, who seldom missed a day of work even when he was in terrible pain, and who left a shining legacy of what it means to be a teacher.  Lonnie, your JEL family misses you very much!

As Construction Trades Instructor David Garvey said, “He was a gift ---- a cowboy in a welder’s mask, a little guy with a heart the size of a freight car.  He brought us a gift of courage that was different from running into a burning building.  It was courage every day, every minute for three years, and the gift was that we were allowed to witness that and, hopefully, in his memory, our lives will be changed.”

Quotes from people whose lives were touched by Lonnie Scott:

“I guess I’m one of those people who doesn’t care too much what most people think of me. … I cared very deeply what Lonnie Scott  thought.  Lonnie was my friend and we shared a mutual respect..”… David Rose, Auto Body Instructor

 “For two years, Mr. Scott has been my teacher, but also has come to be one of my best friends.  Mr. Scott’s ideals and values are an inspiration to me.  The one thing I believe is missing from a lot of teachers is caring.  Mr. Scott cares about all of us.  That is why he has made such a difference in my life.”… Student

“Mr. Scott defined the kind of man I want to be.  He has a passion for teaching.  I always felt like I could call and talk to him at any time.”… Student

“Mr. Scott and welding have changed the way I see life.  When I joined this class, I wanted to have a fun class in my schedule to talk with friends, instead I found my career.  I really enjoyed this class because every day was a different experience.  Mr. Scott helped me out the whole year, with the little things that gave me confidence.  He made my senior year the best.”… Student

“Mr. Scott gave me inspiration and an outlook on what to do in life.  Because of him and his class, I have a career path.  He was a great teacher!”...Student

“Mr. Scott taught me something that means a great deal to me.  Welding has become something I love to do because of what I experienced in Mr. Scott’s classroom.  He was not only the greatest teacher I ever had, but was a mentor and a friend.  I saw him in good times and bad times and he was always there to answer my questions and help me.  I will always remember the things he taught me, from the time he grabbed my hand while I was stick welding to help me get the motions down, to the projects we worked on together.  I will remember all the things that come together to make a great weld every time I start an arc.  I know that Mr. Scott loved welding and loved teaching young people.  His passion for teaching has truly paid off.  He has forever touched my life.  I thank him for the things he has inspired in me and always treating me like a person.  Mr. Scott has forever turned me into a leader.”   …Student