Former Marine to receive diploma at Carson High graduation

Paul Scott was three months away from graduating from high school in 1953 when his father announced he got a construction job in another town.

"I was the oldest of 10 kids," Scott explained. "When you have that many kids, you have to go where the work sends you."

Rather than transfer to a different high school so late in the year, the 17-year-old enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served during the Korean War, where he was stationed for two and a half years in Korea and Japan.

After five years, he left the military.

He considered getting his GED, but life got too busy with a job as a plant operator with Shell Oil Co. and a young family.

Then he just put it out of his mind - until about a year ago when he read an article in the Nevada Appeal detailing a new law which would allow veterans who left high school to get their diplomas.

"I thought it was something I'd like to do," he said. "It's something I'd missed out on."

He filled out the paperwork and today he will join with Carson High School's class of 2004 to march across the stage and receive his diploma.

"I'm very, very excited about it," he said. He admits he's also embarrassed by the attention.

Scott hasn't had it easy. In addition to serving in the war, he lost two wives to breast cancer.

Yet he has remained optimistic. "I've lived a good life," he said.

In his 35 years with Shell, he worked his way up from plant operator to senior research technician, a job that now requires a college degree.

In 2001, he attended a nephew's wedding in Carson City, where six of his brothers and two of his sisters live.

At the wedding, he met Jeannine, who had also lost her husband, Rod Sozza. The two were married March 30, 2002.

They each have two natural children, and five step-children between them.

His wife encouraged him to apply for his diploma.

"I'm so excited for him," she said. "He's just a great man and he deserves this. It's that piece of paper he's missing."

It wasn't until his children received the announcement of his graduation that they learned he had not received his diploma.

"I didn't want to give them a reason not to do it," he explained.

He will be marching across the stage with two grandnieces and one grandnephew.

His family members living in town plan to attend, and more are flying in.

"I'll probably have more people there than the kids," he laughed.

He'll also be graduating with two of his co-workers from the Empire Golf Course, where he works part-time.

"They all say, 'Hey, Scotty' - that's what they call me - 'I'll see you on Saturday,'" he said.

Contact Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or at 881-1272.