Jimmy "Alan" Scott

Jimmy ‘Alan’ Scott (Alan) was born on May 20,1958, to Jimmy and Bobbie Scott in Ft. Walton Beach, FL and went home to be with the Lord on November 22, 2025, at the age of 67.

As early as he could remember, Alan loved all things outdoors. His grandparents lived on a 100-acre farm where Alan often spent summers hunting, fishing and helping with chores. One summer when he was 13 years old, his Grandmama Jones insisted, with a switch as motivation, that Alan attend a revival at her country church. Begrudgingly, Alan went, and on that first revival night, the preacher’s words spoke right to Alan’s heart, and he accepted Jesus. The following night, he excitedly went to the revival and walked the aisle to publicly profess. Later, at age 16, when he could drive, he found a church home at Cinco Baptist Church in Ft Walton Beach and was baptized. Alan’s faith in Jesus and his passion for telling others about Him would direct the rest of his life.

Alan graduated from Choctawhatchee High School and lettered in football as an offensive lineman. He would go on to earn a scholarship at Southern Arkansas University (SAU), where he was a 3-year starter and team captain. Living his faith, Alan started an SAU chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), gave his testimony in local churches, and worked in summer FCA football camps.

Alan felt an early calling to be a preacher; however, a pastor friend advised him that he would have more opportunities to influence others for Jesus outside the church walls than inside. Alan decided to become a football coach. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Health, Physical Education and Recreation with a Minor in Biological Science from SAU. Alan would later earn a master’s degree in educational leadership, a specialist degree in educational leadership and a doctorate in educational management from the University of West Florida, officially becoming Dr. Scott (as his friends enjoyed calling him).

After graduating from SAU, Alan returned home to Northwest Florida, where he was the football coach at Ruckel Junior High School in Niceville. A year later, Alan accepted a position as an assistant football coach and science teacher at Gulf Breeze High School, where he started an FCA chapter. It was during an FCA meeting that a cheerleader asked him to pray for her sister, who was in the hospital. Alan went to the hospital to visit and pray for the cheerleader’s sister, Leslie Givens. That visit turned into a long conversation, which became a date, leading to many more dates, culminating in a proposal and then a wedding. God blessed Alan and Leslie’s marriage of 41 years with a son, a daughter, their spouses and four grandsons. Alan grounded their family life in faith and love, enjoying all things outdoors together.

Alan’s career in education would lead him to many roles, all with increasing levels of responsibility. He was a teacher, coach, dean, assistant principal, principal, director of secondary education and, for the last 16 years of his career, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for Escambia County Schools. Alan’s passion for helping students receive the best education possible led to notable accomplishments in his career. Alan became a proficient grant writer and assisted Brentwood Middle and Ransom Middle schools in obtaining grants to install fiber optics and technology. These resources supported STEM education and innovative programs that helped struggling readers improve their reading skills.

While principal at Workman Middle School, Alan led the school from a ‘needs improvement’ rating to an “A” school in just three years. Alan was often asked to speak at conferences about the student success he helped create, enabling others to replicate his work. The Escambia County School System made great strides under Alan’s leadership and mentorship. After dedicating 40 years in education, Alan retired in May of 2020, leaving behind a legacy defined by excellence, service to others, and an unwavering belief in every student’s potential.

Alan’s free time was focused on his family, friends, church and the outdoors. Alan taught Sunday School for many years, primarily to young people, helping them grow and become Christians. Alan was an avid outdoorsman and taught his children and others how to fish, hunt, and clean what they catch or kill. And in this area, Alan was one of the best! Amongst his buddies, they all knew that when you laid all the fish out on the dock, the biggest one was usually caught by Alan Scott.

Remarkably, Alan didn’t just live his faith in the good times, but over the last five years, he lived his faith as he battled renal cell carcinoma. A painful and aggressive cancer, Alan battled his diagnosis with determination and optimism. Despite constant fatigue and low energy, Gulf Breeze locals would often find Alan in the gym working out. Through the miracles of Jesus and his wife's tenacity in finding the best treatments available, Alan lived beyond expectations to be part of many cherished family moments. He experienced the joy of walking his daughter, Whitney, down the aisle and dancing with her at her wedding, seeing his son CDR Hunter Scott, US Navy, honored for his work at the Pentagon and speak to a crowd at Pensacola NAS about his history project, and most significantly, welcoming four grandsons into the family and videoing fishing tips so they can carry on the Scott fishing legacy.

Dr. Jimmy ‘Alan’ Scott went to his heavenly home experiencing the deep love and devotion of his family. He is survived by his wife, Leslie Givens Scott, son, CDR Hunter Scott (Marisa), daughter, Whitney Taaffe (Brandon), grandsons, Hugo and Milo Scott, and Fisher and Barrett Taaffe, sister, Sharon Shepherd, brother, Steve Scott, sisters-in-law, Leigh Adams and Catherine “Buffy” Beal (Patrick) and nieces and nephews. Alan is preceded in death by his parents, Jimmy and Bobbie Scott. Alan said he was looking forward to seeing his Grandmama Jones in heaven to thank her for leading him there and to welcoming others who he helped lead to Christ. Alan’s greatest hope is for all to know Jesus, and he will be there waiting to welcome all home.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6 at First Baptist Church Pensacola (500 N. Palafox St.) Visitation is from 9 – 10:00 a.m., and the service begins at 10 a.m.

The family would like to thank all their friends who have loved and supported them through this journey, as well as the medical teams who helped improve Alan’s quality of life over the last five years. In place of flowers, donations to honor Alan can be made to The Kidney Project online at https://pharm.ucsf.edu/kidney for their work to create a small, surgically implanted bioartificial kidney to treat kidney failure or to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes online at https://nwfloridafca.org/donate or by check to FCA Northwest Florida, Attn: Mike Killam, 4900 Bayou Blvd. Suite 212, Pensacola, FL 32503 so others can come to know Christ.