Ronald Thomas Scott

Ronald Thomas Scott

1945-2021

The Houston arts community has lost a guiding light and generous host. Ron Scott, photographer, software developer, and more recently short-video creator, was frequently seen holding court at numerous venues in the Montrose area.

Ron Scott passed away on Thursday July 29th after a long battle with a pulmonary disease unrelated to Covid-19. His disease was accelerated by the big freeze in February. He was at home, surrounded by family and friends, as he had wanted. Details regarding a memorial service are pending. In lieu of any physical gifts, please raise a glass of your favorite beverage to toast Ron.

Ronald Thomas Scott was born 23 March 1945 in Dayton, Ohio, where his father Larkin Burneal Scott was stationed during World War II. His mother, Frances Hearne Thomas, was active in the arts in Fort Worth, where Ron grew up.

Ron's career in photography began at Tulane University where he worked for both the student newspaper and the yearbook. He was also the director of the Tulane radio station, KTUL. Ron graduated from Tulane University with a degree in physics in 1967.

After graduating, Ron worked with a photographer in Fort Worth until he moved to Houston in 1970. There he teamed up with a photographer relocating from New Orleans. Ron set up his own studio in 1972. His photography won awards in New York, San Francisco, Houston and Dallas. His photographs have appeared in Communication Arts Magazine, Photographis, Graphis Posters, at the PHOTOKINA exhibit and FotoFest in Houston. Ron was a contributing editor for Texas Monthly Magazine and created the photographs appearing on 32 of the covers.

Ron won many local and national awards in photography, and in April of 2009 Ron was honored as the recipient of the Decorative Center Houston 2009 Stars of Design award for photography. Ron was a member of the American Society of Media Photographers and the Art Directors Club of Houston, and he worked tirelessly for the benefit of both organizations, hosting many events at his studio.

As computer graphics began to impact the arts, Ron developed and sold software called QFX which had a substantial impact on the field, allowing photographs to be enhanced in ways unthinkable before. Ron had long used his degree in physics to support wizardry in both the studio and the darkroom. With the advent of QFX and other software he developed, the combination of his technical skill and his artistic sensibility fused to form a lasting contribution.

Ron is survived by his brother (Larkin Ridgway Scott) and sister (Sarah Ellen Scott), two nieces and a nephew.