‘Mo’ Scott named chairman of award-winning Festival of Flowers
By ST. CLAIRE DONAGHY
sdonaghy@indexjournal.com
In years past, Maurice “Mo” Scott has been one of the thousands of people to attend South Carolina Festival of Flowers events.
He’s even volunteered his skills as a pilot to take youngsters up in the skies during the festival’s Young Eagles flights.
This year, though, Scott has a new role: chairman for the 2009 Festival of Flowers.
Scott was asked to serve as chairman by the 2008 chairman, Kathryn Smith, a community relations specialist for the Burton Center Foundation.
Smith said Scott’s “background in business and as a community leader” are valuable assets for the festival to have.
“He will be a great adviser to Kay (Self, executive director of the South Carolina Festival of Flowers,)” Smith said.
As festival chairman, Smith said Scott will “meet new friends and have a lot of fun,” as well as offer suggestions on ways to improve the festival.
“It’s an honor to be asked to serve as festival chairman,” Scott said, noting he has been presiding over numerous festival board meetings and is helping out in whatever way he’s needed.
“What’s surprised me most is how many people are involved in the festival,” Scott said. “It’s hundreds of people, and many have been involved with the festival for quite some time. Greenwood is fortunate to have leaders in a lot of different areas.”
Kay Self, executive director for the South Carolina Festival of Flowers, said each person selected as chairman or chairwoman for the festival brings a “freshness to the event.”
“Each year, I have the privilege of working with a talented, dedicated individual who understands the vision and mission of the festival,” Self said. “It has been an honor to work alongside Mo this year and share his excitement about the upcoming festival.”
Experienced volunteers and festival event committees have contributed to the Festival of Flowers success for more than 40 years, Scott said.
“It has grown from a weekend event to include the entire month of June,” Scott said. “There’s something for everyone, ranging from a horse show and a model plane event, to concerts, a triathlon and of course, events focused on gardens and flowers.”
The South Carolina Festival of Flowers was recently named Overall Festival Event of the Year for 2009 at the Carolina ShowFest Conference.
“I think the festival will continue to grow, adding more big-name people for events,” Scott said.
In just one year, the festival’s topiary display has become a signature event, Scott said.
Last year was the first year for the topiaries, and the event went over so well that it’s being expanded for 2009, Scott said.
“There are going to be more topiaries than there were last year and that, coupled with all of the renovations to Maxwell Avenue and Uptown, is going to be a good thing.”
The festival, which began as a way to capitalize on Park Seed’s renowned trial gardens has grown to include more gardening events as well as sporting events, the arts and music, with an estimated economic impact of more than a million dollars.
“Great things are headed for Greenwood,” Scott said.
A retired U.S. Air Force pilot, Scott first came here during the 1970s with Monsanto, now known as Solutia. He later moved from the area but returned again to Greenwood with Monsanto in 1993, as a manager with the company. Scott retired from the company in 1997.
Since retirement, Scott said he has kept busy, “volunteering a lot.”
In addition to his newest role as Festival of Flowers chairman, Scott has previously served on the board of trustees for Self Regional Healthcare as well as the Arts Council of Greenwood County and the Lander University Foundation.
He’s serving on the board for HospiceCare of the Piedmont, the Piedmont Tech Foundation, Blue Ridge Council for Boy Scouts of America and South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation.
Scott is also a docent for Lander University and a member of Rotary Club of Greenwood.
He also volunteers his piloting skills for Angel Flights, free air transportation for charitable and medical needs.
Mo Scott and his wife, Nancy, have three children, a daughter, Jill, who lives in Chapel Hill; a daughter, Lisa, who lives in Oklahoma City and a son, Jon, who lives in Greenwood. The Scotts have eight grandchildren with a ninth on the way. The Scotts are members of Westminster Presbyterian Church.
In his free time, Mo enjoys running, kayaking on Lake Greenwood, reading, flying and spending time with family.