Magoffin County lost perhaps its largest supporter last week with the passing of Scotty B. Patrick, at the age of 89.
On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, Patrick passed away at his home in Dublin, Ohio, surviving by a host of family and friends, including his Salyersville National Bank family and special friends Randell and Connie Howington and Nancy and Gene Slane.
In Salyersville, Scotty B. was best known for his philanthropy to the community, continuing to give back to his hometown in hopes of improving people’s lives here in Magoffin County. In 2002, he organized and chaired the Magoffin County Community Foundation to provide financial support to local civic organizations and community development projects, and in 2004 he organized Magoffin County Community Day through that organization. The annual event raises funds for local nonprofit groups, with a total of $1,745,000 raised to date for Magoffin’s civic groups – which includes fire departments, the rescue squad, senior citizens and so many other important groups – with the fundraising event proving to be the largest fundraiser for most of the groups each year. But Scotty didn’t just organize the foundation and event, he matched the funds raised, basically doubling the amount that went to the groups each year out of his own pocket.
He also established a Magoffin County Scholarship program, which has provided 221 scholarships to graduating seniors from Magoffin County High School, with an additional seven scholarships awarded to current high school seniors during the 2024 Magoffin County Community Day, held just last month.
In 2021, while at a bank board meeting, he talked with then-Magoffin County Schools Superintendent Scott Helton and Board Member Jesse Rudd, about their big dreams – the plans they would go after if they had the funding – and they discussed the possibility of a new career and technical center. The old building was in bad need of replacement, and wasn’t even on the high school’s campus after the high school moved to the Parkway, requiring students to be bussed for those classes each day. Without missing a beat, Scotty agreed to help them out, inevitably donating a total of $5 million to the project, opening them up for matching funds through the state, in essence building a state-of-the-art career and technical building at no cost to the community.
Salyersville National Bank employees prepared a eulogy for the funeral, to be held today at the Magoffin County High School gymnasium, stating in it, “Scotty was a pillar of this community and Salyersville National Bank. Scotty was a philanthropist, he wanted to share his good fortune with Magoffin County and give back to the county he was from; his love for Magoffin County and her people never changed. In 2013, Scotty received the Salyersville Renaissance Lifetime Achievement Award. He was awarded a plaque, Keys to the City and the title of Grand Marshal during the 4th of July Parade.”
Not only did Scotty give back to his community in life, but he ensured that he will be able to continue enriching the lives of Magoffin County citizens, setting up the funding to continue the Magoffin County Community Foundation for as long as anyone wants to continue the endeavors.
“Not just plans for Community Day, but overall plans to better enrich the lives of Magoffin Countians,” Donna Salyer, Salyersville National Bank President and Community Foundation Vice-Chair told the Independent about Scotty’s arrangements for his wealth to continue to benefit the community. “Projects the foundation’s board deems a good fit or for the needs of Magoffin County, scholarships – all of it is continuing. He was super thoughtful to make sure it continues and it took a lot of planning, but he was satisfied with it before his passing.”
Scotty B. Patrick was born on May 4, 1935, to the late Buck and Lilly May Carpenter Patrick. He attended Salyersville High School his freshman year, then went on to continue his education and graduate from the Millersburg Military Institute. He went to the University of Kentucky as a college freshman, then transferred to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), earning two degrees in chemical engineering. He received additional education from the University of Illinois and Harvard University.
Scotty was employed by Ashland Inc. for many years, he held many titles and management positions; he also served as a consultant to Ashland, Inc after his retirement. Scotty served as Adjunct Professor at Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio from 2001 until recent. He became a Director of Salyersville National Bank in 1972 and later Chairman of the Board in 1992. Scotty was a member of the Salyersville Methodist Church and a Member of Salyersville Masonic Lodge #769.
According to the eulogy, “One of Scotty’s favorite days of the year was Community Day. He loved to dress up as famous musicians, tv characters or historical characters. It would take him weeks if not months to find the right costume or song to make his act authentic. He always played the role to perfection. He often enlisted bank employees, friends and even bank directors to play a supporting role. He loved to go around and visit every participating non-profit organization and support their efforts to raise money. Many times, he would set himself up as a target in North Magoffin Fire Department’s dunking booth. He was up for anything to help the groups earn money. He was disappointed that the rain cut Community Day short this year, but he said there is always next year. He always remained positive no matter the circumstances.”
Despite his success in his career and living away from here most of his life, he continued to hold the small community of Magoffin in high regard and never forgot his roots.
“He was just a common man,” Salyer said.” He never forgot where he came from and every time he came here he made a point to meet and talk to the people here. He loved everyone and was a very caring man. He never wanted recognition for anything and whatever he obtained, he shared.”
Scotty B. Patrick’s legacy will no-doubt live on through the lives of all the people his generosity has touched and will continue to reach through his determined planning that ensures those good deeds will outlive us all.
Magoffin County Schools administrators released a statement about Patrick’s passing, noting his philanthropy that made the Magoffin Count Career and Technical Center possible, as well as the 20-plus years of scholarship donations, stating, “We are forever grateful and deeply moved by Mr. Patrick’s remarkable gifts to our community. As the saying goes, ‘When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.’”
