Born February 8, 1938, in Hunnewell, Missouri, the youngest of seven children, he married the former Betty Jean Forte. They have three sons, Lloyd (deceased), Jeffrey and Merrill Edward LaVerne (MEL).  General Scott excelled in ROTC and was appointed Commander of the Pershing Rifles ROTC Drill Team for two years.  He earned the rank of Cadet Colonel and graduated from Lincoln University in 1960 with a BA degree in Graphic Arts.  He was designated a Distinguished Military Graduate and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry.

During his thirty year military career, Scott commanded units at every organizational level and distinguished himself in branch assignments in Military Intelligence, Special Forces, Armor and Infantry.  Scott is the recipient of many military awards including the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, with five oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Combat Infantryman’s Badge.  He also holds the distinction of being the first Lincoln University graduate to attain the rank of Brigadier General.  He is a graduate of the United States Air War College and earned his Master’s Degree from Troy State University.  He received an honorary Ph.D. degree from Lincoln in 1992.