John Alden Scott

Who is John Alden Scott?

John Alden Scott was a President of the Gannett Foundation from 1976 to 1981. Scott later served as Chairman of the Board after his retirement, and served in that capacity until three months before his death.

Scott was born in Litchfield, Connecticut. His family moved to South Bend, Indiana in 1928, where he attended public schools. He graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame in 1938, receiving his degree in English. He was briefly a teacher and a school administrator prior to World War II.

While at Notre Dame Scott joined the Marine Corps Reserve, and received a commission as a second lieutenant. He was called to active duty prior to the outbreak of the war. He served with the 3rd Marine Division and saw action during the Bougainville and Guam campaigns. He received the Silver Star, Bronze Star with valor clasp, and the Purple Heart. Scott was called to active duty during the Korean War, serving in Washington, D.C. as a public relations officer. He retired from the Marine Reserves with the rank of Brigadier General in 1959.

Following his service during the Korean was elected mayor of South Bend. He served from 1952-1956.

Scott began his journalism career with the South Bend Tribune. He joined Federated Publications and published their newspapers in Lafayette, Indiana; Boise, Idaho; and Olympia and Bellingham Washington. When Federated Publications merged with the Gannett Company, Scott was named publisher of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and President of Gannett Pacific. After four years Scott was named President of the Gannett Foundation, which at the time was ranked one of the largest foundations in the country.