Scott Lee Hess was born April 2, 1958, at Gothenburg Hospital, Gothenburg, Neb. to Irvin and Ruth Ann Hess of Farnam, Neb. He passed away suddenly on December 9, 2001, in Bryan, Texas at the age of 43 years.

Scott graduated from Farnam High School, Farnam, Neb. in 1976. He attended one year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and graduated from Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Mo. in 1981. He received his Master's degree in Physical Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1982.

He married Saundra Hagedorn on June 20, 1981, in Jefferson, Iowa. Two children were born to them, Ryan and Katie. He also has a son, Jalen.

Scott was the athletic trainer at Denison High School, Denison Texas from 1982 until he moved to Bryan, Texas in 1996 where he was the athletic trainer for Bryan High School. Scott, affectionately known by most as "Doc", enjoyed working with young people and was very dedicated to his job. He also enjoyed photography, reading, crossword puzzles and was an avid University of Nebraska Cornhusker fan. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and students.

Survivors include his children, Ryan, Katie and Jalen of Denison; parents, Irvin and Ruth Ann Hess Farnam; sisters, Nancy (Roger) Berry of Farnam; Carol Hess, Columbus, Neb.; and nieces, Andrea and Emily Berry of Farnam; special friends, Saundra Hess and Shlonda Ford; aunts, uncles, cousins and lots of friends.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, December 13, 2001, at Waples Memorial United Methodist Church in Denison, Texas with the Reverend Ken Hildebrand officiating. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery, Denison, Texas.

Family will be at Bratcher Funeral Home from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

A memorial fund has been established for those who would like to contribute in Scott's memory.

Pallbearers will be Marty Criswell, Ken Thorne, C.M. Pier, Buck Smith, Sam Smith and Ty Comstock. Honorary pallbearers will be Y.Q. Tillery, Wendel Hoppe, Weldon Hoppe, Tony Thomas, Tim Thomas, Rod Junker, Keith Junker and Glenn Hess.

Herald Democrat, Sherman, Texas

Scott Hess, head trainer at Bryan High School for eight years, died Sunday after suffering a heart attack while driving past the campus.

Hess, known to his students and co-workers as “Doc,” was on Oak Ridge Drive when his car veered across a school parking lot and stopped near the baseball field around 1 p.m., said Marty Criswell, athletic director.

A lifeguard at the Bryan Aquatic Center rushed to Hess and administered CPR until paramedics arrived. He was taken to St. Joseph Regional Health Center where he died. Hess was 43.

“I loved him like a brother,” Criswell said. “I worked with him as a rookie out of college. He’s like family to me.”

Criswell first met Hess at Denison High School where he began his career as a trainer almost 20 years ago. When Criswell moved to Bryan, he remembered Hess’ work and brought him to Bryan High in the early 1990s.

“We’d worked together for so long,” Criswell said. “He was the best I’d ever been around as far as working with coaches.”

School counselors and Criswell spoke with some of the 14 student trainers at Bryan High on Sunday afternoon in an emotional meeting. Students and staff shared memories of Hess. Counselors also will be available for students and faculty throughout the week.

Student trainer Mallory Bergland said she will miss the role model who taught her important life lessons. She felt disbelief after learning of his death.

“I haven’t ever had anyone close to me pass away,” said Bergland, 16. “It didn’t really sink in until I got to the field house and his truck wasn’t there.”

Among students, Hess was known for saying, “Just put ice on it” or “wrap it up” for injuries from broken legs to twisted ankles — usually in an effort to lighten the mood, Bergland said.

“I’ve learned so many things from Doc,” she said. “I could always talk to him about everything. I learned how to keep my head cool and calm in stressful situations.”

Bryan High Principal Robby McGowen said sadness for Hess’ death will be felt across the campus.

“This is really going to be a blow to our faculty because he was well liked by everybody,” McGowen said.

Hess graduated from Northwest Missouri State University and earned a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He is survived by two sons, Ryan and Jalen, and a daughter, Katie, in Denison, Texas.

Bryan-College Station Eagle, December 10, 2001

Scott graduated from Farnam High School in 1976 and was the son of Irvin and Ruth Hess of Farnam. He is also survived by a sister Nancy (Roger) Berry of Farnam and Carol Hess of Columbus.

The Eagle, Bryan, Texas