Robert Walter “Bob” Scott

Robert Walter "Bob" Scott. Image Source: The East Carolinian, March 18, 1969. East Carolina University Campus Newspapers. UA50-05. University Archives, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.

In 1962, East Carolina opened Scott Residence Hall, named after former Governor W. Kerr Scott (1896-1958), honoring his contributions to eastern North Carolina as commissioner of agriculture and then as governor, especially his initiatives expanding paved roads and electrical power in rural areas. President Leo W. Jenkins and the ECC Board of Trustees perhaps realized that Kerr Scott’s younger brother, Ralph H. Scott Sr. (1903-1989), was a decade into his nearly three-decade run as state senator and could be a powerful ally in the years ahead. Whether they also realized that Kerr Scott’s son, Robert Walter “Bob” Scott, would emerge within a couple of years as one of the most important political figures in the state, first serving as lieutenant governor (1965-1969), and then as governor (1969-1973), is open to question. Yet as things turned out, Bob Scott proved to be – among the Scott family – East Carolina’s most important political friend, playing pivotal roles in support of its bid for university status, its push for a medical school, and also in a reorganization of the state university system that was considerably more to its liking.

As lieutenant governor, Scott was often at odds with Gov. Dan K. Moore (1906-1986), a native of Asheville with undergrad and law degrees from UNC. Not long after Pres. Jenkins declared, in a 1965 speech before the N.C. State University Faculty Club, that the people of the East needed their own university, one independent of the Consolidated University based at Chapel Hill, Moore acknowledged the matter would receive “careful consideration,” but affirmed the “one-university concept,” i.e., the Consolidated University System dominated by Chapel Hill. Though initially in line with Moore, Lt. Gov. Scott, a graduate of N.C. State, soon distanced himself from the governor and announced his measured support for Jenkins’ proposal.

In 1967, during a speech in Farmville, Scott stated “the large majority of the people of the state – and I refer to the average citizen – sees no reason to deny East Carolina university status.” However, Scott advocated a compromise with ECC achieving university status within the Consolidated University System. Scott’s proposal did not entirely please ECC backers who insisted instead on independent university status. Ultimately, however, Scott wanted the 1967 legislature to settle the matter in advance of his gubernatorial bid in 1968. While a supporter of the Consolidated “one-university” System, Scott added “It is not so sacred that we can’t change it.” After the defeat, in the spring of 1967, of ECU’s independent university status bill and the rejection of the compromise including ECC within the consolidated university, Scott quickly voiced support for Sen. John T. Henley’s bill providing for ECC’s nominal recognition as a regional university. Henley later mentioned that in drafting the bill, he had input from former Gov. Terry Sanford, state Sen. Robert Morgan, Pres. Jenkins, and Lt. Gov. Bob Scott. Henley had not, incidentally, sought input from either Gov. Moore or William C. Friday, president of the Consolidated University.

As governor, Scott’s readiness to support East Carolina’s agenda remained strong. In 1969, with Scott’s endorsement, the General Assembly appropriated $375,000 for ECU to plan a two-year medical school. In 1971, with planning for the biennial budget, Scott urged Morgan and Jenkins to support his proposal that the General Assembly budget $1.4 million for a one-year program in medical education for the 1971-73 biennium. Neither Morgan nor Jenkins was excited about Scott’s suggestion – they wanted a two-year program that would soon be upgraded to a four-year school. Still, Scott’s proposal was recognized as most likely to prevail in the General Assembly, and so won reluctant backing from Morgan and Jenkins. In making this call, Scott concurred with the State Board of Higher Education – often viewed by East Carolina backers as UNC’s bureaucratic alter ego – but went well beyond it in publicly endorsing ECU’s eventual move to a four-year med school. Scott emphasized that the one-year school was not a “dead end street,” adding that a one-year school can move to a two-year or four-year program.

Scott favored increased enrollment at UNC’s medical school, but pointedly criticized UNC for repeatedly trying to block ECU’s medical school ambitions. Scott rejected the either/or approach advocated by some and instead insisted that the state needed a strong medical school at UNC, a one-year program at ECU, support for private medical schools such as Duke and Bowman Gray training North Carolinians, and new clinical facilities statewide linked to medical training programs. At one point, when UNC Pres. Friday publicly noted that a one-year med program at N.C. State could be established for less than the one ECU proposed. Scott, though a N.C. State grad, rejected the suggestion, declaring it a ploy to undermine ECU’s program.

In 1970, Scott boldly called for dismantling of the State Board of Higher Education and the Consolidated University System of North Carolina, stating that a new structure would better manage the fortunes of higher education in the state. At that time, the Consolidated University consisted of six campuses, UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, UNC-Greensboro, UNC-Asheville, UNC-Charlotte, and UNC-Wilmington. Outside the Consolidated University were the regional universities, beginning with ECU, Western Carolina University, Appalachian State University, and N.C. A&T University, but including as of 1969, N.C. Central University, Elizabeth City State University, Pembroke State University, Fayetteville State University, and Winston-Salem State University. Under Scott’s reorganized State University System, supervised by a newly created Board of Governors, the distinction between the Consolidated University clique, dominated by Chapel Hill, and the regional university group, led by ECU, was abandoned in favor of a system of fifteen university campuses plus the N.C. School of the Arts. Approved by the General Assembly in 1971, the new system took effect July 1, 1972. Although not billed as a victory for ECU, the reorganization effectively terminated two forces – the Board of Higher Education and the Consolidated University – perennially opposed to ECU’s ambitions first for university status, and then for a medical school. Scott deemed the reorganization of N.C. higher education the “hallmark” achievement of his administration.

Shortly after the reorganization, ECU presented, in July 1972, another request for funding for a two-year medical school. In 1973, even after leaving office as governor, Scott called on the newly established Board of Governors to endorse a two-year medical school at ECU before the General Assembly made the decision. Scott warned that if the latter occurred, it would weaken the board in its role as the planning and governing body for the state university system. As things turned out, with Sen. Ralph Scott’s leadership and political clout, the General Assembly did indeed settle the matter, instructing the Board of Governors to follow suit. Even though Bob Scott had overseen the reorganization of higher education through the creation of the Board of Governors, replacing the Board of Higher Education and the Consolidated University, when the newly created board refused to take the initiative on ECU’s medical program, former Gov. Scott backed ECU, proving once more his strong support for the school and its mission of service to the state.

Sources:

• “1-Year NCSU Med School Program Said Cheaper Than ECU’s.” News and Observer. April 30, 1971. P. 15B.
• Addresses and public papers of Robert Walter Scott, Governor of North Carolina, 1969-1973. Division of Archives and History, Dept. of Cultural Resources. North Carolina Digital Collections. https://digital.ncdcr.gov/digital/collection/p16062coll9/id/181963/
• “Andrew Best Induction to Board of Governors Photo.” 1972. ECU Digital Collections. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N. C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/39836
• “At East Carolina College – Dormitory Named For Scott.” Burlington Daily Times News. Sept. 7, 1963. P. 1B.
• “Bob Scott and Robert Morgan.” 1978. ECU Digital Collections. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N. C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/56660
• “Burroughs Wellcome dedication.” 1970. ECU Digital Collections. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N. C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/15260
• “Cherry Hospital Donation.” 1967. ECU Digital Collections. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N. C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/9759
• Clay, Russell. “ECC Prexy Seeks University Status.” News and Observer. Nov. 20, 1965. Pp. 1. 2.
• Covington, Howard. “Scott, ECU Push 1-Year Med School.” Charlotte Observer. May 12, 1971. Pp. C1, C2.
• Christensen, Rob. The Rise and Fall of the Branchhead Boys: North Carolina’s Scott Family and the Era of Progressive Politics (University of North Carolina Press, 2019).
• “Democratic Women's Convention.” 1967. ECU Digital Collections. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N. C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/9760
• “ECU trustees want medical school study.” Daily Tar Heel. March 10, 1971. P. 1.
• “Former Gov. Scott Discusses ECU Situation: Recommendation By Board Supported.” Statesville Record and Landmark. August 1, 1973. P. 12A.
• “Gov. Scott Announces Step Toward ECU Medical School.” East Carolinian. February 8, 1969. P. 1. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/39397
• “Governor Scott at Legislator's night football game.” 1969. ECU Digital Collections. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N. C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/15211
• “Governor Scott favors medical school.” East Carolinian. March 18, 1969. P. 7. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/39402
• “Governor Scott visits.” ECU Digital Collections. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N. C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/15153
• “Henley Says Board Pressured Colleges.” News and Observer. June 20, 1967. P. 5.
• Hensley, Jay. “Scott Hits Emotionalism, Asks University Revamp.” Asheville Citizen-Times. May 26, 1971. Pp. 1, 13.
• “Higher Education Lagging: House Speaker Gives Views.” Rocky Mount Telegram. Dec. 17, 1970. P. 1.
• Jablow, Paul. “Med School: New ECU Report ‘Impresses’ Scott” Charlotte Observer. Feb. 5, 1971. P. 4.
• “Jenkins Gratified, Disappointed.” News and Observer. Feb. 20, 1971. Pp. 1, 3.
• Jenkins, Jay. “Scott Says Let’s Compromise, Make ECC A UNC Branch.” Charlotte Observer. April 20, 1967. Pp. 1, 2A.
• Marlowe, Gene. “Scott Says Change University Control.” News and Observer. Dec. 16, 1970. P. 1.
• Marlowe, Gene. “1-Year Med Unit Backed For ECU; Scott Hits UNC.” News and Observer. Feb. 20, 1971. Pp. 1, 3.
• Marlowe, Gene. “Friday Gets Top Post in Universities.” News and Observer. March 18, 1972. Pp. 1, 5.
• Marlowe, Gene. “Universities’ Merger Begins In State Today.” News and Observer. July 1, 1972. P. 8.
• “NC Governors attend ECU graduation.” 1978. ECU Digital Collections. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N. C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/15146
• “North Carolina symphony ball.” 1969. ECU Digital Collections. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N. C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/15132
• “North Carolina symphony ball.” 1969. ECU Digital Collections. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N. C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/15133
• “Press award winners.” 1968. ECU Digital Collections. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N. C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/15272
• “Robert Morgan, Bob Scott, and Jesse Helms.” 1978. ECU Digital Collections. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N. C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/56658
• “Robert Morgan with Gov. Bob Scott and others.” 1969. ECU Digital Collections. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N. C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/56711
• “Robert Stafford, Robert Morgan, Bob Scott.” 1978. ECU Digital Collections. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N. C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/56659
• “Scott discusses non-involvement.” Fountainhead. Nov. 13, 1969. P. 3. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/39443
• “Scott emphasizes need for student motivation.” Fountainhead. March 16, 1970. P. 2. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/39463
• “Scott On ECC.” Charlotte Observer. April 20, 1967. P. 18A.
• “Scott’s ECC Plan Draws Some Interest.” News and Observer. April 20, 1967. P. 1.
• Sen. Henley Defends Regional University Bill.” Tar Heel. June 20, 1967. P. 1.
• Shires, William A. “Scott, Morgan Agree Upon Vital Point Regarding East Carolina College Status.” Rocky Mount Telegram. April 25, 1967. P. 4A.
• Tartleton, Larry. “A New System – Scott’s Goal: Promote Higher Education Harmony.” Charlotte Observer. Jan. 9, 1972. P. 3B.
• “WNCT radio transmitter dedication.” 1969. ECU Digital Collections. J. Y. Joyner Library. East Carolina University. Greenville, N. C. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/15135

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