Scott Coleman Ward
Obituaries
Vail Daily page A4 - August 19, 2015
Lt. Col. Scott Coleman Ward was tragically killed in a bizarre highway accident on the northern border of Georgia, heading to work as a test pilot for Gulfstream in Savannah, Georgia on Aug. 10.
Scott was born to George and Shirley Ward, of Vail, on March 24, 1968, in Glenwood Springs. He attended Red Sandstone Elementary School in Vail, Patrick Henry Elementary School in Colorado Springs, Minturn Middle School and graduated in 1986 at Battle Mountain High School in Eagle-Vail. Scott excelled in sports. He was quarterback of the Battle Mountain Huskies in 1985 and led the team to the Colorado state finals for the first time in Battle Mountain history. Throughout his life, he was the ultimate Denver Broncos fan.
Scott was accepted to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management. He earned an MBA in Administration at Troy State University in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1997 and earned a Master of Military Operational Arts and Sciences at the Air Command and Staff College in 2005 at Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
His professional military education took him to various air bases around the United States, including Laughlin AFB in Texas, Maxwell AFB in Alabama, Kirtland AFB in New Mexico, McGuire AFB in New Jersey and Offutt AFB in Nebraska.
His flight history began in 1994, when assigned to the 54th Airlift Squadron. Throughout his time there, he was check airman, instructor and chief of training and safety. He provided upgrade and continuation training on C-21 VIP transport missions.
In 1997, he commanded KC-10 air refueling missions worldwide out of McGuire AFB and instructed training at the KC-10 formal schoolhouse as part of the 2nd Air Refueling Squadron. His KC-10 was the first refueling jet over Manhattan on 9/11.
At Offutt AFB in 2002, Scott was responsible for the Squadron Flying and Ground Safety Program. He ensured a safe working environment for 200 squadron members, and commanded B-747 on worldwide missions, supporting the president and secretary of defense.
At the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., in 2005, he was the directorate of manpower and organization as deputy chief of staff personnel and served as chief analyst of the U.S. Air Force Undergraduate Flying Training Program. He analyzed Air Force programs in order to develop resource allocation strategies that meshed with the Air Force total budget.
In 2008, he was assigned to the 99th Airlift Squadron/89th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, as the chief of wing safety and instructor pilot on G-550, G-V, and G-III. He was responsible for flying and ground safety of 1,000-plus personnel. He was a key adviser to the commander on safety issues, investigated and briefed mishaps for safety awareness and prevention. He was captain and instructor pilot on missions for the vice president, secretary of state, secretary of defense, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and the first lady.
In 2012, he was assigned to the Presidential Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, as Air Force One pilot/B-747 captain/ G-550, G-V, G-III check airman/chief of safety & training/director of operations. He was one of 10 pilots hand-selected to fly the president of the United States. He was responsible for the flying/ground safety of over 300 personnel at Andrews and managed the flying and ground training for 70-plus personnel.
Scott is survived by his wife, Jennet, and their three sons, Cole (12), Jake (11) and Zach (9), and his canine buddy, Desmond. Additionally, his mother Shirley Ward of Eagle-Vail; his sister, Stephanie Ward Archibeque (married to Ted of Eagle) and their two daughters, Isabella (10) and Zoey (7); his sister, Stacey Ward Kerek (married to Phil ) of Houston, Texas; and his brother, Richard Ward of Denver (married to Tami) and his two daughters, Kendall Jackson (18) and Allie Jackson (18); and his aunt, Doris Bailey of Avon.
Vail Daily page A2 - August 18, 2015
EAGLE COUNTY — You wanted Scott Ward at the controls, whether it was Air Force One or Battle Mountain High School’s football team.
Ward piloted both successfully.
Ward was always a leader as he moved through his too-short life, from local high school football at Battle Mountain, to commanding thousands of people in the Air Force, to sitting at the controls of Air Force One.
“It doesn’t amaze me that the president of the United States says, ‘This is the guy we want in the cockpit,’” said Pat Phelan, one of Ward’s football coaches at Battle Mountain. “Everyone around him said, ‘Scott’s in control. We’re going to be fine.’”
Ward was military to his very marrow. He was so trusted, he was tabbed to fly refueling missions over the nation’s capital for military jets flying cover during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
He retired from the Air Force about six weeks ago and went to work for Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. as a test pilot.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Guys like Ward aren’t supposed to die like this.
About 8:30 a.m. Aug. 10 in Savannah, Georgia, Ward was driving his 2004 Lexus southbound on Georgia Highway 25. A leaf spring shook loose from a tractor-trailer, flew through the front windshield and out the back window of Ward’s car.
Ward was injured and airlifted to Memorial Hospital in Savannah. He died from his injuries, said Tracey Watson, of the Georgia State Patrol.
Ward, 47, is survived by his wife, Jennet, and their three sons, Cole (12), Jake (11) and Zach (9), and his canine buddy, Desmond. Additionally, his mother Shirley Ward, of Eagle-Vail; his sister, Stephanie Ward Archibeque (married to Ted), of Eagle, and their two daughters, Isabella (10) and Zoey (7); his sister, Stacey Ward Kerek (married to Phil), of Houston, Texas; and his brother, Richard Ward, of Denver (married to Tami), and his two daughters, Kendall Jackson (18) and Allie Jackson (18); and his aunt, Doris Bailey, of Avon.
A WINNER WALKS AMONG US
Locally, Ward is often remembered for quarterbacking Battle Mountain’s football team as it transformed from Colorado’s longest losing streak to the state championship game. We’ll tell you all about that in a minute.
Ask around about Ward and words like, “leader,” “character” and “integrity” keep coming up.
“He didn’t talk that much, but he was a great leader,” said J.C. Moritz, who played Battle Mountain football with Ward. “There are followers and leaders, and he was a leader.”
A lot of kids go the Air Force Academy, but not that many fly. Ward not only flew, but he flew Air Force One and everything and everyone that goes with that, Moritz said.
“Scott was a man of tremendous character,” said Jeff Campbell, who shared that Battle Mountain backfield with Ward, Tim Adams and John Davis. Campbell went on to play at the University of Colorado and several years in the NFL.
“He was one of the top pilots in the world. He had to be to be at the controls of one of the world’s most sophisticated aircraft and flying the president around,” Campbell said.
Campbell and Ward had spoken after Ward retired from the Air Force two months ago. He was excited about his new job with Gulfstream.
“He left us way too soon,” Campbell said.
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LEAD BY EXAMPLE
Ward was stocky for a quarterback, and was one of the first Huskies to put up 250 pounds on the bench press.
“It was his way of saying that the rest of us better get it done, too,” Moritz said.
That group transitioned from football to hockey, to play for Bob Dorf. Ward was a defenseman.
“He was fun to coach. You’d tell him what he had to do, and he’d do it. You never forget kids like Scott,” Dorf said.
Tim Adams and Ward also transitioned to lacrosse, long before anyone around here played it. They’d carry their lacrosse sticks around like they were dream catchers, and yes, they caught their dreams. They both went to the Air Force Academy and played lacrosse.
A COACHES’ DREAM
Steve Moran and Phelan coached that legendary Battle Mountain football team. When they were juniors, Moran said he knew he had something special, especially with Ward at the helm.
“He was great at decision making. That’s why he did so well in the Air Force. Scott was great. He was a leader. He was tough. My heart aches. I just loved the kid,” Moran said.
“He was the leader of an extremely talented team,” Phelan said.
“It’s hard to talk about Scotty without getting emotional,” Phelan said.
Battle Mountain was mired in Colorado’s longest football losing streak — six winless seasons — when that crew showed up for their freshman season.
“We needed someone with his brain and his temperament to run the show,” Phelan said.
Moran installed a triple option offense, which meant Ward had to make multiple decisions on every play.
“Do I hand it to Johnny Davis, who’s the number-two rusher in the state? Or do I pitch it to Jeff Campbell, who’s the number-one rusher in the state? Or do I keep it (Ward rushed for more than 800 yards their senior season), or do I throw it?” Phelan said.
Ward could read defenses like they were a large-print comic book, and his decision-making was invariably spot on.
“Sometimes we’d go back and look at the film and see we were wrong and he was right. Coaches’ egos are such that they don’t like to admit they’re wrong, but we did that season on more than one occasion,” Phelan said.
THAT CHAMPIONSHIPS GAME
Battle Mountain was leading when Roaring Fork High School scored with less than two minutes left. The ensuring kickoff sailed out of the end zone, and Ward put his Huskies to work at their own 20, with 80 yards to cover and two timeouts.
For years, at the end of every practice, Battle Mountain practiced its no-huddle offense, and now they needed it.
“It was remarkable watching him lead that team down the field. It was beautiful. It was so amazing,” Moran said.
They ran out of timeouts, so Phelan sent junior tight end Hayward Lafferty into the game with simple but emotional instructions: “Mr. Phelan says you gotta throw the ball!”
Ward gathered himself and his teammates, dropped back and threw a touchdown strike to Lafferty. The Huskies trailed by one.
There were about 15 seconds left in the game, and the Huskies piled on each other in a huge end zone celebration.
As they were celebrating, the referee set the ball and started the clock. The coaches were screaming, but no one could hear them. It was Ward, of course, who realized what needed to be done.
Ward pulled them out of that pile and onto the line of scrimmage. With the last ticks of their high school football career winding down, he pitched to Campbell who was stopped about six inches from the end zone — and the state title they’d chased for so long.
LESSONS THAT LAST
Like so many things that happen to you when you’re young, not quite winning that title was painful, but didn’t do any permanent damage.
“It left a taste in our mouth that none of us ever wanted to experience again, but it also taught us about hard work and loving each other as teammates,” Campbell said. “Even though we lost, we really won. Look at that group of kids. We all went on to become successful.”
Phelan and others are lobbying to have Ward’s football jersey number, 12, be on Battle Mountain’s helmets right next to the Huskies logo.
It seems like the least we can do.
