Scott Erwin Hendrix, age 61, passed away January 15, 2024, in Manhattan, Kansas. He was born March 19, 1962, in Sheffield, Alabama, the son of Marilyn B. Hendrix and the late Walter S. Hendrix, Jr.
When Scott was twelve, the family moved to Jackson, Tennessee, which he proudly considered his hometown. He graduated from North Side High School, where he was an Eagle Scout, involved in many academic and service organizations, and enjoyed playing the trumpet in the band. He studied business at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, graduating in 1985. He enjoyed every aspect of college life, most of all his brothers in the Sigma Chi fraternity. His outgoing personality, love of life, and penchant for service to others made him a natural choice for Chapter President. Those years began a lifetime of service to Sigma Chi, and more importantly, so many lifelong friendships that he treasured so much.
After several years in the corporate world, Scott returned to UTC to pursue his MBA, and it was here that he discovered his passion for teaching. He then moved across the state and completed his doctoral coursework and comprehensive examinations at the Fogelman College of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis.
Scott began his teaching career in Finance at Kansas State University in 2000 as a visiting professor for one year. Then, after just a year at Western Illinois University, Scott was asked to return to Kansas State in 2002, and it was here where he truly found his home.
Scott’s years at Kansas State were filled with service to others. His biggest joy was helping his students succeed, in college and beyond. He loved the classroom, and was always available to help, and it showed – within ten years he had won every major teaching award (some more than once). But Scott’s dedication to his students did not stop there. He brought the world to his classroom through guest speakers from the largest companies, and he likewise showed his students the business world firsthand, through numerous trips to the trading floors and boardrooms of the world’s largest financial institutions, both in the US and abroad. Whether it was standing on the floor of a stock exchange in Asia, or having lunch with Warren Buffett in Nebraska, Scott’s incredible Rolodex of contacts enabled his students to see their possibilities, and to make the contacts that would help them succeed in their careers.
Kansas State was also where Scott was able to reconnect with and give back to his beloved fraternity. He was not only a longtime advisor to the KSU Sigma Chi chapter but was also honored to serve a four-year term as State Governor. He served students in leadership capacities with many other academic and social organizations on campus.
Scott leaves a legacy of service, and of love. He was known and is remembered for his constant smile, his infectious personality, and his willingness to help anyone. Thousands of K-State students have benefitted from his dedication and commitment to excellence, and the family is incredibly grateful to the many former students who flooded Scott’s Facebook page with very moving tributes and remembrances.
Scott was a Christian, raised and baptized in the Baptist church. He especially cherished worshipping with his family.
Scott was preceded in death by his father, Walter S. Hendrix, whom he loved dearly.
He is survived by his mother, Marilyn Hendrix, Jackson, TN, his brother, Mark (Karen) Hendrix, Naples, Italy, his sister, Shan (Tony) Whiston, Salisbury, MO, three nephews, Grant (Sasa) Hendrix of Tacoma, WA, Blake Hendrix of Kansas City, MO, and Peyton (Krissie) Whiston of Commerce, GA, a niece, Palmer Whiston of Columbia, MO and a great nephew, Eko Hendrix, Tacoma, WA.
SERVICES: A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held April 6, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., at Arrington Funeral Directors, 148 W. University Parkway, Jackson, Tennessee, with Dr. Scott Gilbert and Reverend Dan Bruce officiating. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. and continue until service time. A family Interment will follow at a later date.
For those who are not able to attend, services will be available through our webcast at www.arringtonfuneraldirectors.com
If you want to honor Scott’s life, he would say – be grateful every day, and make sure that the people you care about know how much they mean to you.
Arrington Funeral Directors, 148 W. University Parkway, Jackson, TN 38305
