Honorable Richard E. Scott, 76 years of age, died 31 July 2017 at home. He was a former resident circuit judge of Edgar County. 

Mr. Scott was born 5 May 1941, the son of C.E. Scott and Mary (McCarthy) Fitzgerald Scott. He was married to Katherine Miller Scott, who predeceased him on 2 May 1992. He then married Margaret A. Brecht, who survives. 

Mr. Scott graduated from Paris High School in 1959. After graduation from the University of Illinois Law School in 1966 and successfully completing the bar exam, Mr. Scott entered the United States Air Force through the Officer Training School and served until October of 1970. 

Upon leaving the military, he became affiliated with the Model Circuit State’s Attorney Project in Bloomington, Illinois. He was appointed Associate Circuit Judge for the Fifth Judicial Circuit in April 1972. When Judge Carl Lund was elected to the Fourth District Appellate Court, Judge Scott was appointed to the office of resident circuit judge (Edgar County) for the Fifth Judicial Circuit effective 3 December 1986. He was then elected to that position in 1988, serving until his retirement in December of 2000. He was recalled to active judge status in March 2008, and retired again in July of 2010. Mr. Scott was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the Illinois State Bar Association, St. Mary’s Cemetery Board, and St. Mary’s Finance Board.