Florida College Honors The Legacy of Dedicated Professor Shane Scott

December 5, 2024

Beloved Florida College professor Paul Shane Scott passed away December 4 after a lengthy battle with ALS, leaving a legacy of love for Christ and the students he served.

“The Lord blessed Shane with the ability to relate to others. He truly could be ‘all things to all men,’” said longtime friend and colleague Phil Robertson, VP of Advancement. “Growing up in a modest home without a father taught him how to value others, especially those who had been hurt by life. Regardless of the pain, the sin, the attitude, or politics, Shane had a relationship with them. Throw in his self-deprecating humor and amazing intelligence and you had a master communicator of God’s will and love.”

A native of Kentucky, Shane earned a Certificate of Achievement in Biblical Studies from Florida College in 1989 before pursing his M.A. in Theology from Cincinnati Bible Seminary. Prior to his diagnosis, Shane was pursuing his PhD in Humanities from Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama. Shane preached for congregations in Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee and Florida before he and his late wife Kristi joined the Valrico church of Christ, where he faithfully served until his death.

During his first tenure as FC faculty (1998-2001), Shane taught History and Geography of the Old Testament, Old Testament Poetry, History and Geography of the New Testament, Christian Evidences, Ephesians/Colossians, and Religious Thought (Biblical Eschatology) Ethics. He returned in 2022 to teach Great Books.

“Shane was among the most gifted and beloved faculty members ever to teach at Florida College, and his legacy at FC will run deepest through the many students he taught and befriended so impactfully,” observed Florida College president, Dr. John Weaver. “And nothing was more impactful than his faithful endurance of personal pain and loss in order to serve others and show the cross-shaped love of Jesus.”

Robertson said teaching at Florida College was a dream come true for Shane and noted that he will be remembered for his rare combination of intellect and humility.

“He was brilliant, and he was truly a Biblical scholar,” Robertson said. “However, he never made you feel stupid or inferior. What was even more impressive was how he could communicate challenging principles and instruction from God’s Word. He made the ‘hard things’ easy to understand. Or better yet, he would say ‘I don’t know the answer.’ He was never pretentious or arrogant.”

Shane had been writing two books at the time of his death, one on the Lord’s Supper (available February 2025) and another on apologetics, taken from his FC course notes and sermons at Valrico church of Christ.

“Many brethren have been working with him to edit those books the past few months,” said Robertson, who preached alongside Shane at Valrico. “Even with his ALS diagnosis he was still teaching and inspiring all of us to grow in our faith and our ability to reason. I will greatly miss my friend, but I am also rejoicing with him. It’s an awesome thought to know that the man who taught us to reason and think through our faith does not need that reason or faith anymore. He is with the One who is the reason for all things. And that’s a wonderful thought.”

Today during chapel, our student body remembered and honored Shane’s incredible life and legacy in a special service which can be viewed here.

With the help of AI technology, Shane led FC faculty and staff in the pre-session devotional about the profound privilege of Following Christ. To listen to his message, click here.

In lieu of flowers, those who love him respectfully request that donations be made to Florida College. Contributions may be made by mail to Florida College, 119 N Glen Arven Ave, Temple Terrace, FL 33617, or online here.