Services set for H.N. 'Sonny' Scott

Transcript Staff

H.N. "Sonny" Scott, 57, former executive director of Norman Addiction Information -- Counseling and longtime Department of Corrections administrator, died Thursday after a battle with cancer.

A celebration of life service is scheduled 3 p.m. Sunday at CrossPointe Church in Norman. A graveside ceremony will be 2 p.m. Monday at Vernon Cemetery in Coweta, under the direction of Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman.

In 2002, Scott was named executive director and CEO of NAIC, which provides outpatient alcohol and drug treatment and prevention services. Scott was named director following the retirement of the Rev. Dick Virtue, founder of the nonprofit agency.

Scott, a native of Coweta, graduated from Ozark Bible College in 1969. While a student, he began working with Christ in Youth outreach ministries and traveled on weekends, preaching in various churches. He served seven years as an associate director of Christ in Youth Inc. and as a youth director of the First Christian Church in Coweta.

Scott worked for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for more than 26 years, retiring in 2002.

In 1977, he was offered an opportunity to work as a counselor for the Tulsa Community Correctional Center, and worked his way up from correctional officer to case manager and then to superintendent of the Tulsa center. He was promoted to warden of the Jackie Brannon Correctional Center in McAlester in 1988.

During his years at the McAlester facility, Scott completed a master's degree in human resources at East Central University in Ada, where he taught classes from 1993 to 2000. He also taught part-time at Mid-America Bible College in Oklahoma City.

Scott was promoted to warden of the 1,200-bed medium-security prison at JHCC in Lexington on Oct. 9, 1995.

At the time of his appointment as executive director of NAIC, Scott said:

"I am very thankful that the Lord has given me the opportunity to experience this and to have had some positive influence upon the criminal justice system and upon the inmates that have come through the doors where I've been."

Scott received many honors and awards throughout his career. He recently was honored by Oklahoma Citizen Advocates for Recovery and Treatment Association (OCARTA) with the Helen Cole Lifetime Achievement Award. He also received the Service Leader of the Year award from the Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselors Association (ODAPCA).

In 2007, Scott was called upon to serve as interim deputy commissioner for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services during a transition of leadership.

Family said Sonny always viewed his work as his ministry and was thankful he could serve the public, the many staff, offenders and clients over the years.

He served as president of the Oklahoma Substance Abuse Service Alliance. He was a Rotarian and actively served in Rotary Clubs in McAlester, Purcell and Norman. He was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was an active member of the University Christian Church in Norman. He also was a member of the Oklahoma Substance Abuse Services Alliance, Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Professional Counselor's Association, American Correctional Association and Oklahoma Correctional Association.

Scott served as an adjunct professor at Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City, Eastern Oklahoma State College in McAlester, and taught in the master's degree program at East Central University in Ada.

His journeys took him to all 50 states, four continents, 11 countries and numerous Greek and Caribbean Islands.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Jan (Hodges) Scott; two sons, Nathanial Scott and his wife Pauline of Oklahoma City , and Seth Scott of Norman; his mother Ann Scott-Spradlin of Coweta, two brothers, Rick Scott of Coweta, and Randy Scott and his wife Kathy of Coweta; two nieces; one nephew and many friends.

Scott's father, Howard W. Scott, and his grandparents preceded him in death.

The family requests memorials be made to, NAIC - Norman Addiction Information -- Counseling, P.O. Box 730, Norman, OK 73070 or Ozark Christian College, 1111 N. Main, Joplin, MO 64801.