LISD dedicates department in memory of late ag teacher Scotty Ford
Family, friends and students of the late Scotty Ford gathered to dedicate the Lingleville ISD Ag Department building in his memory on Monday, May 22.
Ford, who was in his third year of teaching ag in the district, passed away Aug. 28, 2022, and left a lasting legacy on the district and his students.
A group of Ford’s students knew they wanted to pay respects to one of their favorite teachers and approached teacher Alexis Brock asking how to accomplish the goal of renaming the agricultural building in his honor.
“Over the last year, Scotty has been remembered multiple times and emotions have been up and down. We’ve processed it and are still processing it. It’s definitely been different ... in the classroom, in life. It’s definitely been different and we have learned to grow with it. In this process, the kids took the lead,” Brock said. “After his passing, one of the first things they did was ask what they could do to make sure he wasn’t forgotten.”
Brock said to his students making sure the impact that Ford had in only two years, stayed and was remembered, was extremely important.
The students took the idea of having the building renamed in his honor to the school board and it was approved. They also put together a porch swing out of a Ford tailgate in honor of one that Ford’s dad had built that was located in the former ag teacher’s office.
“It was not to be sat on,” she said, as laughter erupted from the crowd and students. “We built one that people can sit on if they want to.”
Superintendent DeeCee McDougal said though the words to describe Ford were extremely difficult, she came up with dedicated, caring and foundational as the list went on and on.
“Mr. Ford set the bar high for himself and in turn through his example he did so with his expectations in all of us,” she said. “He not only gave his students permission and knowledge to be great, he required it. In the process he also challenged them just to be amazing people. I miss his steadfast and honest feedback. His beliefs and values were rock solid and never wavered. I respected him greatly for that.”
“He loved all of his students without reserve,” she said. “The students whose lives he touched are forever better for knowing Mr. Ford.”
Skylah Finley, a senior, spoke on behalf of the ag students.
“Over the past few years, we have had the opportunity of being students under the amazing Scotty Ford – a man of great character, unceasing work ethic, crazy love and unimaginable strength. Never once did he complain about his life’s circumstances – past or present. He just showed up every day, living to the fullest. He was a party and a force to be reckoned with. Mr. Ford was honest and to the point, sometimes a little too much, but isn’t that all what we need in life? He gave us all a run for our money, in a good way. He was a man of commitment. One who clung to his faith knowing God had things under control no matter what the outcome would be,” she said. “He taught with a passion – yes for agriculture but we believe his driving force was student success. His physical presence is greatly missed and the emotions have come in waves but every class period, shop project, show pens, welding, cowboy hat, rodeo and Ford truck that passes by will hold his memory close to us.”
As further tribute, ag students gathered around senior class member Joseph Briseno as he branded the bench utilizing a brand belonging to Ford, as a type of ribbon cutting.
Ford’s family was in attendance and offered a thank you to the staff and students.