David Scott, a longtime Georgia politician and businessman, has died. He was 80 years old. Known for his more than 23-year tenure in the United States Congress, Scott garnered a respectable reputation among peers for his staunch advocacy for farmers, health care, education and veterans.
The son of Mamie Polite Scott and Albert James Scott, the politician was born on June 27, 1945, in the small South Carolina town of Aynor. During his adolescence, Scott moved between several towns and regions, including Scranton, Penn., Scarsdale, N.Y. and Daytona Beach, Fla.
He graduated with his B.A. in English and speech from Florida A. and M. University in 1967. During his summer breaks at FAMU, he was a management intern in the office of the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Labor Management Relations, based in Washington, D.C.
After graduating from FAMU, he earned his MBA with honors from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania in 1969. That same year, he married Alfredia Aaron, the youngest sister of baseball legend Hank Aaron. The couple moved to Atlanta shortly after their marriage, a city that they would call home for the remainder of Scott’s life.
In the early 1970s, he opened an advertising business, Dayn-Mark. The up-and-coming entrepreneur soon found work as a consultant for then-Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter regarding revenue policy. His experience with Carter soon opened the door for Scott to work on Andrew Young’s congressional campaign in 1972. Two years later, Scott was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, where he served from 1975-1982.
Notable moments from his time in office included creating laws that would assist in enabling gun safety, including making it a felony in the state of Georgia to knowingly sell or provide a minor with a firearm, and holding parents accountable for keeping their firearms out of reach from their children. In addition, Scott also helped to create PeachCare, which provides health insurance for Georgia children.
In 1983, Scott departed from his role in the Georgia House to begin what would become a 19-year tenure in the Georgia Senate as a member of the 36th district.
In 2002, Scott took on the most prominent political position of his career when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for Georgia’s 13th Congressional District, representing an area including Henry, Clayton, DeKalb, Rockdale, Newton and Gwinnett counties. Scott served 12 consecutive terms in office, quickly becoming a staunch advocate at the nation’s capital for education, better health care and military service members. In 2021, Scott became the first African American Chair of the powerful House Agriculture Committee.
Scott leaves behind his wife Alfredia, two daughters and two grandchildren.
