Catching up with: Jim Scott

Tony Altobelli

For those out there looking for either a positive role model, a

special influence, someone to talk to or just simply a groovy dance

partner, look no further than Jim Scott.

“Recently, I was over at Victoria School teaching kids how to dance

and I was on television,” Scott said proudly. “Good, wholesome dancing is

a lost art. When Chubby Checker came on the scene teaching people how to

twist, proper dancing went out the window.”

Scott, 75, a fan and supporter of Estancia High athletics for over 30

years, watched his four kids attend high school there (Jim’s youngest

son, Tom, died in 1977 after being hit by a car), but years and years

after the last Scott graduation ceremony, Jim is still making an impact

in Eagle country.

“It’s been a fine institution for many years and I’m proud to have had

my kids graduate from there,” Scott said. “I believe the faculty and

administration care about the kids. They did when my kids went there and

they care today.”

Most people know Scott from various football, basketball and baseball

games where he and his wife, Joan, have established four “Bell” games for

Estancia-Costa Mesa matchups, football, boys and girls basketball and

baseball.

“After a winning school is decided, we take the winning kids over to

Newport Rib Company and we feed them,” Scott said. “I feel that it’s

great for our community and it’s fun for the kids.”

But according to Estancia Principal Dr. Tom Antal, he means far more

to the youngsters than free ribs.

“There’s a passion with Jim,” Antal said. “Not only is he a heck of a

nice guy, but he’s a tough son of a gun, too. He demands respect from the

kids to himself and his wife and I think it’s great for the kids to learn

how to be respectful.”

Scott’s generosity stems from years and years of learning what’s right

and wrong in the world of Boy Scouts.

“I’ve been involved with the Boy Scouts my whole life and one of the

things you learn about is moral character,” Scott said. “That’s one of

the great things about that organization. You know what you’re going to

get when you get into it.”

Scott, who is ironically an “Eagle” Scout for the Boy Scouts is now in

the business of giving back to the world after years of accumulating

knowledge, experiences and wisdom.

“Kids will follow one of three paths,” Scott said. “First, there’s the

path of nothing, where drifters hang out. Then, there’s the path of evil,

where kids will end up in jail or worse. And, finally, there’s the path

of good, and that’s where I want to help more kids end up.

“I don’t ask for anything in return,” Scott continued. “Just the

opportunity and privilege of doing it.”

Still fulfilling the obligation of an Eagle Scout, Scott has spent a

number of hours working on various projects for Estancia athletics and

Costa Mesa High athletics.

“We’re close to getting a 50-meter pool at Costa Mesa and we’re

working hard on getting a 2,500-seat football stadium on our campus,”

Scott said. “We’ve been working on that one since 1996 and we’re getting

close to turning that into reality.”

But more important to Scott than the stadiums and pools of the future

is a sense of making a difference.

“If I can touch the life of one child in a positive way, it’s all been

worth it,” Scott said. “I want to be a positive role model for young

people. It’s just the right thing to do.”

When not helping the youth of Costa Mesa, Scott is President and

Founder of SECO Seal Corporation. “We make metal gaskets for the

aerospace industry,” Scott said. “Some of my parts are out in outer space

this very minute, which is like winning a huge football game for me. I

worked for General Dynamics for years and I’ve been involved with

aerospace as far back as building B-29 bombers back in World War II.”

But his happiest day was when he met his wife, Joan, now best friends

for almost 49 years. “I met Joan when I was working at General Dynamics,”

Scott said. “Now that I’ve been married for such a long time, I feel that

I know how to do it.”