Albany and Clinton County residents and sports fans here and region-wide, lost one of its most well-known figures last week as legendary WANY radio broadcaster and former Albany Mayor Sid Scott died at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee on Friday morning, December 18, 2015. He was 78.

Scott’s passing marks the end of an era in local radio broadcasting that included many well-known air personalities, including Darrell Speck, Welby Hoover, Ray Mullinix, Elmer Goodman and Eddie Paul Coop.

Scott was one of two original area broadcasters from the 1950s still living. The other is Steve Staples of WFLW/WKYM in Monticello. The impact Scott had on the community as a radio broadcaster was very strong and will be greatly missed.

Scott, who had been ill and sometimes hospitalized at times over the last couple of years, was also referred to often as the “Voice of the Bulldogs,” having broadcast Clinton County High School basketball and in recent years, football, over a period that spanned into seven decades.

He was on the air during many eventful moments, including the Clinton County Lady Bulldogs All “A” State Championships, state tournament appearances, and their runner-up title in the Sweet 16 back in the mid-2000s, as well as the Bulldog’s lone Sweet 16 appearance in 1960.

Scott did his last live CCHS broadcast from “The Castle” here at home last Tuesday night when both varsity teams played Cumberland County. He was scheduled to broadcast, along with his son Sid (the Kid) Scott II, the day of his passing on Friday, November 18.

Sidney Hugh Scott was born in Lillydale, Tennessee on June 28, 1937. When he was five years old, his family moved to Albany where he met his childhood friend, Darrell Speck, in grade school.

At Clinton County High School, Scott became one of the all-time great basketball players. He graduated in May of 1956.

The following month, Scott was hired as an announcer and salesman at WFLW in Monticello. Scott had accompanied Speck there months earlier and Speck, a singer / guitar player, was given a 15 minute radio show.

Scott became Albany’s first disc jockey by doing a remote broadcast from the Dr. William C. Mann office. It was Dr. Mann who told Scott that an AM frequency had been allotted for Albany. Scott told Speck’s father, Cecil Speck, and on October 25, 1958, WANY-AM signed on the air.

Scott started doing play-by-play of Clinton County High School basketball games in 1959. He did play-by-play during a span that included portions of seven decades, a feat not many sportscasters can claim.

Affectionately known as “Voice of the Bulldogs,” Scott became a legend with fans of Clinton County High School basketball.

Scott is also a Wall of Fame member at CCHS, where he was inducted in some of the earliest ceremonies of the distinction for his basketball playing abilities.

Along with his devotion to the game of basketball, Scott was also passionate about golf and enjoyed that game for many, many years.

In 2009, Kentucky Broadcasters Association bestowed its prestigous Kentucky Mic Award to Scott. The award is given to individuals who have made an outstanding personal contribution to the broadcasting profesion in Kentucky.

He served as Mayor of Albany from 1981 thru 1984. Cross Street, from the Ashland Station to Dyer Drug was changed to a one way street during his administration, earning him the nickname, “One Way Sid.”

Perhaps his most well-known venture was the formation of The Singing DJ’s with Speck and their fellow-broadcaster, Ray Mullinix. Scott’s recording of “What’ll I Do If My Baccer Don’t Sell” in 1973 was a smash hit and is still very well known through the region today.

Scott married his high school sweetheart, Remona Dyer, and they had two children, Lynn Scott Starnes and Sid Scott II, aka “Sid the Kid,” the two granddaughters, Jessica and Courtney.

Scott always closed his sports broadcasts with, “Good night Poppy’s little angels, and good night Sweet Princess,” referring to his wife and granddaughters.

Basketball fans on hand for Monday night’s boys’ varsity game against Grant County in the local gymnasium, observed a moment of silence in honor of Scott, after standing and hearing a tribute read by Public Announcer Al Gibson.

A small blue and white wreath adorned the WANY desk where Scott would sit while performing his game play by play call.

A complete death notice of Sidney Hugh Scott can be found on page 4.