Thomas Scott

Thomas M. Scott of Mission Hills, Kansas, died at his home on August 31 at the age of 79.  He was born March 28, 1936, in Jackson County, Missouri. On August 16, 1958, he married the love of his life, Betty C. Scott in Kansas City, Missouri. After graduation from the University of Missouri-Columbia, he spent more than 40 years as a leader in the commercial insurance industry. He grew his company, Insurance Management Corporation of Kansas City, to a nationally respected insurance and risk management firm. In 1995, Tom led his company and its subsidiaries through its merger with Arthur J. Gallagher & Company, the sixth largest insurance broker in the world.

Since his retirement in 1997, Tom had spearheaded numerous community and philanthropic activities. In the Kansas City community he has served in leadership positions for the American Royal Association, the United Way, Saint Luke’s Hospital Foundation, the Midwest Diabetes Coalition, the Kansas City Symphony, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement, and Ozanam Home for Boys. He and his wife, Betty, were benefactors of a new outpatient dialysis center at Saint Luke's Hospital, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, and the Scott Pavilion at the American Royal fairgrounds. In 2013, Tom and Betty were
awarded Philanthropists of the Year through Non-Profit Connect. In 2015, he and Betty were honored with the American Royal Lifetime Achievement Award. They also have been strong supporters of Wayside Waifs-Kansas City. Tom was an Ellis Foundation board member and past president of Saddle & Sirloin.

Tom and Betty Scott have been avid supporters of the University of Missouri at Columbia where they first met. They endowed an Oncology Program at the University of Missouri School of Veterinary Medicine and the Scott CEO Forum at the Trulaske College of Business, as well as making several planned gifts to the University. In 2006, Tom received a Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and in 2012 received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Missouri-Columbia Alumni Association. In 2014, Tom was honored with the Significant Sig award from the National Sigma Chi Fraternity organization and remained active with the local chapter until his death.

Tom always sought to find the good in every person and situation. One of his favorite precepts was, “Do more than anyone expects.” Everyone who knew him can attest that Tom was a living exemplar of this guidance.

He is survived by his wife Betty and his beloved pet, Molly; his sister-in-law, Pat Cerny; several nieces and nephews; “like family” Mommy Rita Dancer and German Exchange Student daughter, Ellen Pfrommer; and dear friend, Amos Hindsman. Tom was pre-deceased by his parents, Earl T. Scott and Jane Scott Bentrup; his sister, Sue Zahn; brother-in-law, F. George Zahn, sister-in-law, Jill Cerny Matter; brother-in-law, John Cerny, and nephew, Tom Zahn.

Tom was a long-time member of Village Presbyterian Church and a memorial service will be held there, at 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, Kansas, on Thursday, September 3 at 2 p.m. followed by a Celebration of Life reception at 3 p.m. at Indian Hills Country Club, 6847 Tomahawk Road, Mission Hills, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be to the Scott Family Memorial Scholarship, Attn: Chris Ellis, Ellis Foundation, PO Box 54, Fort Scott, Kansas, 66701, or to the Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, Kansas, 66208.

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