Black Greekdom Mourns the Passing of Alpha Phi Alpha Congressman David Scott

Black Greekdom is currently mourning the passing of Congressman David Scott, the longtime U.S. representative for Georgia’s 13th Congressional District and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Scott died at the age of 80, according to reporting published Wednesday. He was the first Black chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and had been seeking re-election to a 13th term in Congress.

In a statement posted to his official social media account and shared with the public, Scott’s team wrote, “It is with deep sorrow that we share the unexpected passing of Congressman David Scott, Representative of Georgia’s Thirteenth Congressional District.” The statement described him as a devoted leader who spent more than 50 years serving his community, the state of Georgia, and the American people.

Scott was born in Aynor, South Carolina, and later graduated with honors from Florida A&M University before earning an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Before arriving in Congress, he built a career in business and served for decades in the Georgia General Assembly. He was elected to Congress in 2002 and went on to become a prominent voice on agriculture, education, veterans’ issues, and support for historically Black colleges and universities.

His official biography also notes that he was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, specifically the Beta Nu chapter at FAMU.

Throughout his career, Scott left a significant mark on both Georgia and the nation. According to The Associated Press, among his notable legislative achievements was securing $80 million in the 2018 Farm Bill for scholarships at the country’s 19 historically Black 1890 land-grant institutions. Colleagues remembered him this week as a trailblazer whose public service opened doors and created lasting impact.

He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.