2023 Hall of Fame Inductees

James Scott

James D. (Scotty) Scott was born and raised on a farm in Logan County, Kentucky. The youngest of three children, at an early age he decided the life of a farmer was not for him. In 1957, he enrolled in an Engineering Technology program with the University of Kentucky. Scotty began his career with the Kentucky Department of Transportation in Russellville. In 1972, he started his own business, Scotty’s Paving. This business grew rapidly and soon expanded into concrete, utility, and building divisions. Following the purchase of stone quarries, Scotty’s Contracting & Stone was established.

Scotty’s Contracting & Stone has been a defining presence in Kentucky for more than half a century. Since its founding, Scotty’s has helped the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet complete thousands of roadway infrastructure projects, one of which widened 92 miles of Interstate 65 from Elizabethtown to the Tennessee state line. The company’s work has fueled economic growth and helped residents build the lives they want for themselves and their families. The state of Kentucky and Scotty’s have grown together, their entwined histories forming a roadmap of development which has brought economic stability to Scotty’s employees and millions of state residents.

Scotty’s Contracting & Stone has expanded its capabilities through strategic acquisitions of asphalt plants, quarries, and other operations. In 1999, the company joined Houchens Industries, one of the largest and most diverse 100% employee-owned companies in the US. Scotty made this move to help solidify the company’s future and guarantee retirement benefits for all employee owners.

Scotty has been honored with many awards through the years. In 2001, he founded the Scott Center for Construction and Engineering, including the James D. Scott Professorship, the first fully endowed chair at Western Kentucky University. This gave students valuable opportunities to earn engineering degrees. Recently, Scotty donated $1 million to Arts of Southern Kentucky, which sponsored the Rita and Jim Scott Concert Hall. Many nonprofit organizations benefit from his generosity including the Bowling Green Housing Authority, Boys and Girls Club, Hospice, Kids on the Block, and Operation Pride.