Friends remember Probasco as a cheerleader for Chattanooga, a gentleman

Scott L. "Scotty" Probasco Jr. smiles with Helen Pregulman at the History Makers Luncheon at the Chattanooga Convention Center in this 2012 file photo.
Scott L. "Scotty" Probasco Jr. smiles with Helen Pregulman at the History Makers Luncheon at the Chattanooga Convention Center in this 2012 file photo.

Scott L. "Scotty" Probasco Jr., businessman and philanthropist, died Friday night at age 86, and the impact of his passing was evidenced by the tributes that poured in over the weekend from local business and political leaders.

Probasco, who was a cheerleader in college at Dartmouth, also was known as a long-time cheerleader for Chattanooga and many of its philanthropies. He was famous for his encouraging "Great work!" cheer offered during many of the fundraising campaigns the long-time banker and community activist worked to support.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, former Tennessee governor and U.S. Secretary of Education, lamented the loss of his friend Saturday but lauded Probasco's contributions and enthusiasm.

"Scotty Probasco was Chattanooga's cheerleader, a vigorous and generous advocate for so many good causes," Alexander said. "I am especially grateful for his service on our state's governing board for higher education. He was a close friend. Honey and I will miss him greatly."

photo Scott L. "Scotty" Probasco Jr.

Sen. Bob Corker, former mayor of Chattanooga, was also close to Probasco, and expressed his gratitude for the role Probasco played in his life.

"Scotty Probasco made a profound impact on Chattanooga and on my own life as he pushed everyone he knew to excellence and encouraged all of us with his dynamic optimism," said Corker. "I am so proud to have gotten to know Scotty as a young man and thankful for the many lessons he taught me through the way he lived his life. My thoughts and prayers are with Betty and the family as all of us remember Scotty's tremendous impact on the many lives he touched."

Probasco was born in Chattanooga and attended the Baylor School, where he played on the golf team and graduated in 1946. He graduated from Dartmouth College and attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

He considered becoming a preacher, but joined the family banking business instead. His grandfather, Harry Scott Probasco (1858-1919), founded the American National Bank, which was later sold to the Third National Bank of Nashville and then merged with SunTrust Bank of Atlanta. Probasco served as the chair of the executive committee of SunTrust Bank in Chattanooga until his retirement.

"He was a tough-minded banker who offered a lot of strong leadership in the boards he served on, but he always did it in a positive, constructive manner," said Dr. Bill Stacy, the former Baylor School headmaster and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga chancellor. He added that Probasco was one of Chattanooga's greatest community assets.

"Almost everything that is great in our city, Scotty has something to do with. He was really the father of the Chattanooga way of bringing people together and he never asked others to do what he wouldn't do himself," Stacy said.

Pete Cooper, a former American National Bank manager who is president of the Community Foundation of Chattanooga, said Probasco "was like a second father to me and the most cheerful giver I've ever met."

"We were incredibly blessed to have him and he will be sorely missed," Cooper said.

During his career, Probasco served on the boards of Chattem Inc., Provident Life and Accident Insurance Co. and Coca-Cola Enterprises, in addition to a variety of local community groups including Allied Arts, the United Way, the Greater Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, the University of Chattanooga Foundation, the Benwood Foundation, Bethel Bible Village and the UT Development Council, among other local groups.

Pem Guerry said Probasco was one of his father Alex Guerry's closest friends. Guerry said Probasco was a supporter and board member of his father's company, Chattem, and his father served on the board of American National Bank.

Calling Probasco "one of the most well-liked, well-respected businessmen in Chattanooga," Guerry recounted a story about Probasco's good-humored nature.

He said Probasco, who was known for wearing a seersucker suit, was walking with a friend to an event at the Chattanooga Choo Choo one day when the friend grabbed his jacket collar and tore the coat clean off him.

"He said 'Scotty, you're not going to wear that suit again,'" Guerry said. "Scotty just laughed it off."

Guerry said Probasco was one of the few people he's ever seen who consistently conducted himself in a positive way.

"I've been with Scotty hundreds of times in business situations and social situations, and I've never seen anything other than a delightful gentleman," he said.

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