Former Student Publications Director and UH alumnus Wayne Scott died Sunday of complications from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
‘He was a good guy,’ Student Publications Director Richard Cigler said. ‘He was a very big advocate of free press for students, and I think that was his biggest frustration, trying to keep the administration out of (The Daily Cougar staff’s) hair.’
Scott’s son, Steve Scott, said his father didn’t like when the administration told editors what they could and could not do. He said his father was at UH in 1978, when the paper published nude photos, and that despite not agreeing with the photos, his father allowed them to run’ because of his belief in freedom of the press.
‘The students were pushing to have it publish,’ Steve Scott said. ‘He was big on freedom (of) the press. My dad fought; he was totally behind everyone that worked there.’
Wayne Scott began working at UH as a journalism professor, and later became director for student publications – which included The Daily Cougar and The Houstonian. He left the position in 1987.
‘He was probably the most popular guy that ran the paper,’ Steve Scott said. ‘He was one of you all, through and through. He lived for you all.’
No date has been set for the memorial.
