Despite a cold Thursday morning, dozens of Ballard Hudson High School alumni gathered at the front lawn of Ballard Hudson Middle School for their former band director’s street dedication. A portion of Anthony Road from Felton Avenue to Pio Nono Avenue is now known as Robert L. Scott, Jr. Way. You can watch the full ceremony here.

“Our school Ballard Hudson High School has been a staple in our community for decades and Robert L. Scott, Jr. is part of the reason this school has a great legacy,” said former band member and friend of the family Greg Turner.

Scott, Jr. was the band director at the High School from 1956 until 1970, when the school permanently closed its doors. He taught hundreds of students throughout the decades and left an everlasting impression on them.

“Mr. Scott led more than 30 students who went on to super stardom as musicians, producers, composers, and vocalists. He was a source of talent for the music business with an office located on Cotton Avenue.,” said Turner. “If you were chosen by Robert Scott to play for Ballard Hudson’s band, you were made to feel special by your friends, neighbors, and your parents.”

Scott, Jr. went beyond his full-time job as a public-school teacher, to offer free music classes to young children at the Booker T. Washington Community Center.

“He took some of his seniors there and taught the kids how to play instruments. During that also, they got their first chance to learn how Scott worked you until you’d sweat,” said band member Newton Collier. “One thing I’d like to say to all of you, especially the musicians is pick up your instruments and start playing again!”

While he was special to all of his students, he was the most special to his wife Jessye L. Scott, three children Dr. Jeralyn Scott Smith, Vernita Scott, and Bradford Scott.

“Daddy loved a lot of things. He loved my mother, he loved his children, and he loved music. He loved learning it, playing it, and loved teaching it,” said Dr. Scott Smith. “He wanted to be the best music teacher to his students. His students responded and the result was the Ballard Hudson High School Tiger Marching Band.”

About Robert Louis Scott, Jr.

Robert L. Scott, Jr. was born in Macon in 1933, attending Bibb County Schools and graduating from Hudson High and Industrial School in 1949. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Morris Brown College in 1953 and a Master of Arts degree in Music from VanderCook College of Music.

He joined the armed forces where he served in the United States Army Band as a Drum and Bugle Corps instructor before returning to Macon in 1956 as the band director at Ballard-Hudson High School until it closed in 1970. He taught music and social studies at several schools until retiring in 1987. In 1984, he was named the first ever “Teacher of the Year” for the Macon Telegraph. He was also a member of 100 Black Men of Macon and the Optimist Club.

In addition to his career highlights, he was a devoted husband to his wife Jessye Lundy Scott, and father to three children, Vernita Scott, Bradford Scott, and Jerelyn Smith.