Walter Scott Jr.

Walter Scott Jr.
Born	(1931-05-21)May 21, 1931 Omaha, Nebraska,US
Died	September 25, 2021(2021-09-25)(aged 90) Omaha, Nebraska, US
Education	Colorado State University
Occupation(s)	CEO,Kiewit Corporation
Spouse(s)	Carolyn Jane Falk ​ ​ (m.1952; died 1983)​ Suzanne Marshall ​ ​ (m.1987; died 2013)​
Children	6

Walter Scott Jr.(May 21, 1931 – September 25, 2021)was an American billionaire businessman, civil engineer, philanthropist, and CEO ofKiewit Corporation.At the time of his death, his net worth was estimated at US$4.2 billion.

Education

He graduated fromColorado State Universityin 1953 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.

Career

Scott was first elected to theKiewit Corporationboard in 1964. In 1979, he was elected president. WhenPeter Kiewitdied later that same year, Scott was selected to succeed him as chairman.

He sat on the board ofBerkshire Hathaway,and was a childhood friend ofWarren Buffett.He was also on the board of directors ofBurlington Resources,Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises,Level 3 Communications Inc.,MidAmerican Energy Holdings,RCN Corporation,Valmont Industries,and Peter Kiewit Sons' Inc, and was the chairman of the Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress.

He was a director of theJoslyn Art Museum,Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation, and the Omaha Development Foundation. Nationally, he was a director of theHoratio Alger Associationand the National Forest Association.

Scott was chairman ofLevel 3 Communications.

Philanthropy

Scott consistently ranked among the wealthiest Americans. With his wife, Suzanne, he founded the public,non-profitSuzanne and Walter Scott Foundation which has funded the Scott Atrium & Education Center atUniversity of Nebraska Medical Center,the Scott Technology Centerin Omaha, andThe Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve.

In June 2010, whenWarren Buffettappealed to him to join theGiving Pledge,he partially accepted, stating that after his death his remaining estate will go into his eponymous foundation.

In 2011, he committed $10 million to the construction of Engineering II, a $70 million, 122,000 square feet (11,300 m²) building which will house interdisciplinary energy, environment and health programs atColorado State University.

In November 2016, it was announced Scott would be donating $53.3 million to Colorado State University School of Engineering, CSU's largest ever gift, and that the College of Engineering at CSU will be renamed the Walter Scott Jr. College of Engineering, becoming the only named college of engineering in the state of Colorado.

Collector

In 1996, Scott acquired the original sales document of theLouisiana Purchasefor his private collection.

Honors and awards

Scott became anEagle Scoutin 1946 and was a recipient of theDistinguished Eagle Scout Award.

He received the Golden Plate Award of theAmerican Academy of Achievementin 1991, presented by Awards Council memberDennis Washington.Scott was the Host of the 1998 Achievement Summit inJackson Hole, Wyoming.

Personal life

Scott's second wife, Suzanne (néeMarshall; 1930-2013) had been a good friend of his late first wife, Carolyn Jane (néeFalk; 1932-1983), but did not know Walter. They wed in 1987 at the Countryside Community Church. Suzanne Scott died in 2013, aged 83.

Walter Scott died on September 25, 2021, at the age of 90.