ARTICLES

‘Stew master’ is revered member of parish

By Steve Neill
Of The Catholic Virginian

When one sits down with Horace Scott, an 86-year-old gentleman who is the mainstay behind most events at St. Augustine parish in Richmond where food is served, one finds someone who does it all “because I love my church.”

Mr. Scott, a native and life-long resident of Richmond except for military service, is also a charter member of St. Augustine’s when it was established in 1973.

He grew up in the Richmond neighborhood once known as Manchester.

He became a Catholic in 1941 shortly before he married his wife Anne, a life-long Catholic. They have now been married 66 years, getting married at Sacred Heart Church on Jan. 3, 1942. The late Father Albert Pereira, then associate pastor, witnessed the marriage.

“She was the only girlfriend I ever had,” Mr. Scott said.

Mr. Scott, then only 20, was drafted by the Army and entered military service in July 1942. He was trained as a welder.

“I never had owned a car and they made a mechanic out of me,” he said, with a laugh. “They said they needed two welders to fill slots in a class and I signed up.”

Mr. Scott had worked for Dupont since 1939, traveling to work on a streetcar.

“I worked in operations, handling the raw materials that went into nylon,” he said.

For many years he did shift work with Dupont, taking his turn with the “graveyard shift” which was from midnight to 8 a.m. This somewhat limited his volunteer work.

“I worked shift work and didn’t want to get tied up,” he said.

“I’m the type of guy who, if I join something, I’m going to be active,” he continued. “But working in shift work, I just couldn’t do it.”

Somewhat reluctant to talk about his volunteer work at St. Augustine’s, his fellow Knights of the Bishop Ireton Council of the Knights of Columbus told The Catholic Virginian of many of his roles in the parish and for the council. He is a charter member of the council since it was established in 1969.

“Horace was the one who set up the bingo kitchen,” said Frank Cuff. “He’d leave work a half hour early on Friday afternoon because we opened the doors at 6:00.

“He’d buy all the food and kept a special account which he still does today.”

Mr. Scott also heads up the kitchen crew which caters wedding receptions and other events at the Bishop Ireton Center to raise money to support the council’s charitable works.

“Horace has been the catering cook since whenever we had our first event,” said Rick Brennan.

“His last gig was last Saturday (Jan. 12).”

He serves as “the stew master” for the Brunswick stew sale held by the Ireton council each November. He oversees the effort in which 300 gallons are prepared.

“I put the seasoning in, that’s what the stew master does,” Mr. Scott said simply.

He helps prepare the monthly Poor Box breakfast held every third Sunday at St. Augustine’s. He prepares a hot breakfast which is popular with parishioners after Mass.

“All the money from that goes to the Poor Box after the food is paid,” Frank Cuff said.

During Lent Mr. Scott fixes three different soups for the parish’s Wednesday night soup suppers. When the parish hosts homeless visitors through the Caritas program this winter, Mr. Scott will be in the kitchen getting breakfast ready.

“We’re cooking a hot breakfast for Caritas,” he said. “We have to be there at four in the morning because they eat at six,” he said.

Reluctant to accept any praise for his efforts, Mr. Scott said he does what he does because he likes people.

“I’m not a holy, holy guy, but I always say a prayer before we eat,” he said.

Mr. Scott has long served as an usher at St. Augustine’s 9 a.m. Sunday Mass. He greets people, seats them and takes up the collection.

Asked what motivates him to continue his service for the church, he replied, “My love for the church.”

“I don’t know whether I help people or not,” he said, with an air of modesty.

“But I do know I work steady. I’ve always enjoyed working with people. I’ve rarely met anybody I didn’t like.”

Msgr. Michael Schmied, pastor of St. Augustine’s, called Mr. Scott “a jewel of a guy — humble, generous and gracious.”

“I just had a great dinner from him last night,” he said, speaking of the annual parish Women’s Guild dinner on Jan. 15.

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