Scott Everett Zornes, “Scotty,” left this world unexpectedly on the 15th of August 2010, at age 26 while pursuing his dreams at the University of Alabama where he had just completed a summer internship as a student assistant with the Tide football program. The numbing pain of his sudden departure is somewhat tempered by the enduring celebration of a life, albeit short, that was lived fully and touched so many. Though written word cannot adequately capture the person of Scotty, a brief recap of his life follows.

He was born in Houston, Texas to Scott and Mam Zornes on the 27th of April 1984, the first of three children. He attended St. Vincent de Paul School and graduated from St. Thomas High School. When not pursuing his passion for hunting, or collecting autographs and baseball trading cards, Scotty was a fixture in the West U sports leagues and on his school athletic teams. His early successes included contributing as a team member on his high school state championship baseball team and earning All-State honors in football and baseball. His prowess led him to Mary Hardin Baylor University where he joined the football team. Visions of playing in the NFL were replaced by a passion for guiding and molding young men as a coach in the WULL and SFL. His talent was immediately evident as he helped lead the 2009 WULL Senior team to a World Series championship. Owing to his mentoring skills and on field leadership, he was a recipient of a national award from The Positive Coaching Alliance, which he proudly accepted on the campus of Stanford University. In his all too brief visit, Scotty left an indelible imprint on the lives of all he came in contact with and his perpetual smile, free spirit and big heart will leave a measurable void in the West U athletic community and around so many future camp fires. Because of his uncanny ability to befriend and interact with people of all ages and backgrounds, he is greatly missed by innumerable friends, former WULL and SFL players and their families and the many young athletes who would have benefited from his tutelage. Importantly, family meant everything to Scotty and his ability to light up their many gatherings remains a perpetual source of joy for his loving parents Scott and Mam; sister, Paige and brother, Adam and his wife Bryce; as well as grandparents, BettyJo Zornes and Carl “Moose” Miller.

Those wishing to learn more or just post a memory are invited to visit the SZ Foundation Facebook page.