Stuart Scott inducted into the NC Journalism HOF

Susan Scott, Stuart Scott’s older sister, described her younger brother as a role model who loved his alma mater, North Carolina.

She said when he was 14, he would cry when the Tar Heel’s basketball team would lose.

Stuart Scott was posthumously inducted into the N.C. Journalism Hall of Fame at UNC Friday. About 100 people attended the event, including his two daughters, parents and sister.

“As a man who dedicated his professional life and energies to journalism and sports, this is a pretty phenomenal feat,” Susan Scott said. “His induction further validates Stuart’s impact within the sports industry, broader media and all the fans.”

Susan Scott said he would be proud to receive the honor. A video tribute of Stuart Scott played during the event, sharing voices in media describing their encounters with Scott and their love for his personality on television. One of the most common stories was how Stuart Scott gave his personal phone number to young aspiring journalists.

“I think everyone loved Stuart for many reasons,” UNC Chancellor Carol Folt said. “But he is what we inspire to be.”

Mia Hamm, former UNC soccer star, presented the award to Susan Scott. During Hamm’s speech, she described Stuart Scott as a brother. She said athletes respected him because he was an athlete himself.

“Stuart was real, he was genuine and full of life,” she said.

Hamm encouraged others to live their lives like he did, with integrity and honor.

Stuart Scott graduated from UNC in 1987 with a degree in radio, television and motion pictures.

For 21 years, he was one of ESPN’s and ABC Sports’ most recognizable and quotable personalities.

During his ESPN career, Scott covered major sporting events, including the NBA Finals, Super Bowl, World Series and the NCAA Final Four. He also hosted numerous ESPN and ABC specials such as “Dream Job” and “Stump the Schwab.”

Scott regularly contributed to ESPN.com, “ESPN: The Magazine” and ESPN Radio. Prior to joining ESPN, Scott worked at WRAL, and stations in Orlando, Fla. and Florence, S.C.

His induction Friday led up to “Late Night with Roy,” the school’s early season basketball event he hosted 10 times, starting in 2001.

The youngest of Jacqueline and O. Ray Scott Jr.’s four children, Stuart Scott was born in Chicago on July 19, 1965.　

Stuart Scott was diagnosed with cancer in November 2007. In 2014, he received the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at ESPN’s ESPY Awards.

He died on Jan. 4 at 49.

His memoir, co-authored with Larry Platt, was published in March and became a New York Times best seller.

UNC head basketball coach Roy Williams was among the group of students, colleagues and others inspired by Scott to nominate him for the hall of fame.

The N.C. Journalism Hall of Fame’s first inductions were in 1981. It’s part of the N.C. Halls of Fame in Journalism, Advertising and Public Relations, and recognizes those who became identified with the state and who have made outstanding and career-long contributions to those professions.

This story was originally published October 23, 2015 at 8:12 PM with the headline "Stuart Scott inducted into the NC Journalism HOF."