Robert Scott Robertson III

Coach Robert Scott (Scotty) Robertson, III



Services celebrating the life of Coach Robert Scott "Scotty" Robertson, III will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church in Ruston, LA on Sunday, August 21st at 2:00 PM. Officiating will be Rev. Jerry Hilbun, Brian Mercer, and Cathy Brewton.

The family will receive friends and visitors on Saturday, August 20th at Trinity United Methodist Church's Fellowship Hall from 5:00 PM-7:00 PM.

He will be buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, in Ruston, LA. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the Louisiana Tech Athletics Department or School of Education, C.E. Byrd High School alumni association, or Trinity United Methodist Church.

"Coach," as most called him, was a man of integrity, faith and wit whose care for others, passion for life and undying love for his family touched everyone he came in contact with. Despite compiling significant accolades in his professional career, no list does justice in describing a man that touched so many, angered so few and was respected and revered by all. Knowing the man was the only true description of his greatness. For those who knew him, he will never be forgotten. His love will carry on forever.

Scotty Robertson was born February 1, 1930 in Fort Smith, Arkansas and moved to Shreveport as a 6th grader. He attended C.E. Byrd High School where he played basketball and baseball for the Yellow Jackets and graduated in 1947. He attended the University of Texas and graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 1951. He also holds a Masters Degree from the University of Arkansas. After one season of professional baseball with the Chicago White Sox, Robertson hung up his spikes for a career in coaching.

He spent 12 years coaching in high school, including 8 at his alma mater Byrd High School, where he amassed a 163-91 record. Robertson then moved to the collegiate ranks, spending 10 years as a head coach at Louisiana Tech. He compiled a 165-86 record and led the Bulldogs to #1 ranking in the national college division in the early 1970s. His Bulldogs won 3 Gulf States Conference championships during his 10 seasons and made 2 NCAA tournaments. Robertson made the progression into the professional ranks where he would spend more than two decades. He coached with 9 professional teams serving as head coach of 3 of those teams. In 1974, he became the first head coach of the New Orleans Jazz and was later head coach of the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons. He was an assistant coach in the NBA Finals with the Phoenix Suns, coached in 2 NBA All-Star games, and participated with NBA teams in Japan, Italy and Germany.

Robertson was a member of 8 halls of fame and this year was named Alumnus of the Year for Louisiana Tech School of Education. He was part of the Louisiana Tech Letterman Club and the Byrd High School Super Stars. He loved spending time with his Squire Creek family, the Louisiana Tech basketball team, Community Trust Bank friends and duck hunting with his loyal sidekick, "Jet" and the "Z" Duck Club. He was an avid classic car collector, and spent many precious moments on his boats, and at the beach in Perdido Key, FL with his family.

His parents Evelyn Ward Robertson, and Robert Scott Robertson, Jr. precede him in death.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 61 years, Betty Lou Lancaster Robertson, daughters Libby Robertson Power (husband, Robert) of Frisco, TX, Claudia Robertson Fowler (husband, Royal) of Franklin, TN, and Vicki Robertson Page of Ruston, LA. The lights of Scotty's life were his ten grandchildren: Patrick Daniel of Lafayette, LA, Lizzie Daniel of Nashville, TN, Meghann Myers (husband, Jesse) of Houston, TX, Cassie Kelley (husband, Charles) of Nashville, TN, Michaelanne McConnell of Nashville, TN, Mitchell Page of Dallas, TX, Mary Elizabeth Page of Denver, CO, Scott Robertson Page of Dallas, TX, Emily Page of Dallas, TX, and Robertson Fowler of Franklin, TN. Also survived by his sister Connie Robertson Tarver of El Dorado, AR, sisters-in-law, Mary Lancaster Higginbotham of Ruston, LA and Tut Lancaster of St. Joseph, LA, and many nephews and nieces.

Pallbearers include Jerry Hudson, Elee Trichel, Gerald Cobb, John Kyte, Shaun McIntyre, Jimmie Mitchell, John Long, and John E. Maxwell.

The family would like to extend the invitation for all of Scotty's former players to serve as "honorary" pallbearers.

Special thanks to his caretakers, Renae Johnson, Malcolm Mayo, Marilyn Williams, Dr. David Osafa, Dr. Tommy Smith, and the dear friends at Carroll Home Health and Green Clinic Surgical Hospital who cared for him.

We will not cry tears of sadness but happiness for he lived life to the fullest. Our hearts fill with joy knowing heaven needed a new coach and he was the best man for the job. We lift Scotty up, as we know he is smiling down on us and greeting his Lord with his classic "Hey, my man!"

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com

Kilpatrick Funeral Home

Ruston, LA.