Carter's Corner: Peek Established A Gators Family Legacy
Tuesday, November 17, 2020 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In the end, the life of Scott Peek Sr. had stretched way beyond being defined by his time as a two-sport athlete at the University of Florida.
Peek grew up in Jacksonville, the youngest of seven kids born to "poor sharecroppers who grew watermelons, oranges and grapefruit, and raised chickens, ducks and geese" according to an obituary published this week. Following graduation from Landon High School, where he excelled in football, basketball and track, Peek accepted a track scholarship to UF.
However, his time at UF was interrupted for a two-year tour in the Army. In the fall of 1946 as the Gators prepared for their first game under head coach Raymond Wolf – a matchup against Ole Miss at Jacksonville's Municipal Stadium – Wolf informed reporters that Peek had been called into the service. Scott Peek Sr. during his track career at UF. (Newspapers.com)
Peek eventually made his way back to Florida and earned a degree in physical education, health and recreation in 1952. He resumed his athletic career as well, making his mark more on the track, where he was one of the country's top performers in the 100- and 220-yard dashes.
Soon after college, Peek began a career in politics and spent a decade in Washington, D.C., where he served as a key adviser for U.S. Senator George A. Smathers and as the executive director of the John F. Kennedy/Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Campaign Committee for 13 southern states.
UF graduate Bill Nelson, a longtime former senator from the Sunshine State who once worked as an intern in Peek's office, said this in Peek's obituary: "For over half a century I have known Scott Peek as a friend, an advisor and as a 'can do' person in the public arena. When I served as a college intern in Sen. Smathers' office, I marveled at his skill as a mover and shaker as the senator's right hand. Many years later that same skill was used for the University of Florida. I am one of the multitudes who have been the beneficiary of his friendship."
Peek later returned to his home state and embarked on a long a successful career in private business. He also remained a strong supporter of his alma mater. A scholarship fund was established by a group of donors in 2006 to support the Florida Opportunity Scholars Program at UF in honor of Scott "Scotty" I. Peek.
My grandfather, Scott Peek Sr, went to heaven yesterday. He was a 2 sport athlete at UF (football and track) and still holds two records to this day. My grandfather, father and brother are one of only two families to have 3 generations play for @GatorsFB. We lost a great one. pic.twitter.com/v1nfz1FUAh
Meanwhile, Scott Peek Jr. followed his father's footsteps to UF, playing football for the Gators and earning a bachelor's degree in finance in 1980. Scott Peek III, Scott Jr.'s son, did the same. He played for the Gators from 2008-12 and earned a bachelor's degree in sport management from UF in 2013. The Peek family is one of only three Gators families who have had three generations of scholarship football athletes at UF.
Scott Irving Peek, 93, died peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 10. A funeral mass was held Monday in Tampa. Peek's family informed those planning to attend that "Scotty" would be pleased if they wore something Orange & Blue.
