Dr. R. Lewis Scott, Retired Eye Associates Doctor, Remembered

Dr. Richmond Lewis Scott passed away on January 3, 2011, in Woodland Hills, California. Dr. Scott was a pioneering state and national leader in optometry who helped shape the scope and mode of optometric care in Indiana and the nation.

He is survived by his wife, Pearl, and his daughter, Joy Scott Sheets (Michael), and his two grandchildren, Jason and Kiki. His son, Richmond Lewis Scott II, lost his life in an automobile accident on September 12, 1982.

Dr. Scott was born on August 6, 1924 in San Antonio, Texas to Richard D. and Anna W. Scott. He was the youngest of 8 children. The late Mrs. J.A. Santilli, whose husband was the former President of Fort Wayne Corrugated, was his oldest sister. Dr. Scott married Pearl Jeanne Caldwell in San Antonio, Texas, on December 11, 1943. They attended high school together and lived in the same neighborhood.

World War II was declared in 1941 at the time of their graduation. Lewis attended St. Mary’s University while waiting to be called into cadet training. He received his silver wings and his commission with the Army Air Core December 1943. Dr. Scott was sent home on a ten day furlough. He was to remain in the States for 6 more months for additional training before being sent to Europe. They decided to be married so they could be together before he was sent to Europe.

He was first sent to England, and then to France. He flew the A-20 Havoc and the A-26 Invader on missions over Germany. On February 16, 1945, his plane was shot down while flying a mission over Unna, Germany. The plane exploded and caught on fire. His two gunners were killed in the explosion. Dr. Scott managed to bail out and was captured. He was first sent to a hospital because of his wounds and then sent to a German prison camp for the duration of the war. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

After Dr. Scott returned home, he again attended St. Mary’s University, prior to entering Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Philadelphia. He graduated with honors and received his Doctor of Optometry in 1950. Forty-six years later Dr. Scott would receive the President’s Awards from his alma mater for “the advancement of the profession.”

He decided to settle in Hartford City, Indiana since his sister, Helen Santilli, resided there and he had visited from time to time and became acquainted. He was asked to come to Hartford City to practice since there was a need for his services there. He first practiced with Dr. Guy Owsley and then with Dr. Hamilton. Dr. Richard Windsor associated with Dr. Scott in 1973 and later, Dr. Craig Ford and Dr. Laura K. Windsor associated with them. The practice then became The Eye Associates Group LLC in Hartford City. Dr. Scott and his associates also developed the Low Vision Centers of Indiana, a program to help the partially-sighted which have grown into two major low vision clinics in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne that serve visually impaired patients from throughout the United States and the around the world.

Throughout his career he always sought to improve the quality of care he could deliver to his patients. Dr. Irv Borish, noted lecturer and author wrote of Dr. Scott’s practice; “His office, equipment and mode and scope of practice demonstrates the forefront on the profession as ideally envisioned, and serves as a relatively rare example of consistency between preachment and practice.”

Dr. Scott extended his desire to improve the quality and scope of optometric care beyond his practice.  For over seventeen years, he served on the Indiana Optometry Board, most of that time as President of the Board. Dr. Scott worked tirelessly on expanding the scope and quality of optometric care. He has lectured throughout the state, country, as well as presenting lectures in Paris, Monaco and Venice. He was a strong proponent of mandatory continuing education for health care providers and helped pass legislation in Indiana to require continuing education for optometric relicensure.

Dr. Scott’s kind and caring personality made him an amazingly effective leader. Dr. Henry Hofsteter, first Dean of the Indiana University School of Optometry described him as “optometry’s great diplomat.” He was appointed five times by three different Indiana governors from both political parties to serve on the Indiana Optometry Boards. Following the enactment of new therapeutic legislation in Indiana, he was called upon by Governor Evan Bayh to serve as Chairman of the OLDPAC committee to implement the new law. He was awarded a Sagamore of the Wabash by the Governor of Indiana and Honorary Attorney General Award by the Indiana Attorney General for his work in healthcare licensing.

Dr. Scott is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and member of the American Optometric Association.  In 1984, the AOA selected Dr. Scott as the AOA’s National Optometrist of the Year. Dr. Scott is also a Past President of the Indiana Optometric Association. He is also the only doctor of optometry to twice be selected as the Indiana Optometrist of the Year. The IOA has also awarded him the Distinguished Service Award, two Meritorious Service Awards and in 1993 presented Dr. Scott with the IOA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

He also served as President of the National Board of Examiners in Optometry and President of the International Association of Boards of Examiners in Optometry. While serving on the National Board of Examiners in Optometry he was instrumental in the development of the NBEO Treatment and Management of Disease Test. In 1984, he was appointed a Distinguished Practitioner of the National Academies of Practice, an honor limited to only one hundred outstanding clinicians and scholars in each of the ten major health professions in the United States.

Dr. Scott has chaired multiple fund raising campaigns for Indiana University School of Optometry and in 1989 received the Indiana University-Purdue University Spirit of Philanthropy Award, Certificate of Recognition.

The Advancement of Optometry Lecture Series, at the Indiana University School of Optometry through funding from the Eye Associates Group LLC will honor Dr. Scott’s legacy of leadership.

Dr. Scott was also very active in his community. He helped solicit funds for the then new Blackford Hospital in 1953 and the municipal swimming pool. He, Dr. Owsley and Robert Wearly developed the Oaks Residential Subdivision north of the city. He also was one of the organizers of First National Bank, now known as Pacesetter Bank, and served as a director for many years.

In 2009, Dr. Scott moved to California to enjoy his retirement and be near his daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren.