James F. Scotton, a longtime Wisconsin journalist and teacher, died on May 28, in Bayside. He was 91.
A native of Boston, Scotton edited his high school newspaper and won a writing scholarship to Boston University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in literature. After graduation, he was drafted by the U.S. Army and served as news director in the public information office at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He went on to earn a master’s degree in political science and Ph.D. in mass Communication from UW-Madison, where he was a teaching assistant.
He then worked for newspapers in North Carolina and Wisconsin, including The Capital Times in Madison and The Associated Press.
Scotton worked as a reporter and editor at six news organizations before becoming a college professor. He spent 37 years at Marquette University, where he was Dean, department chair and a faculty member, before retiring in 2015.
A memorial celebration will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 15, at Feerick Funeral Home, 2025 E. Capitol Dr., Shorewood, WI 53211. A time of sharing, which will be live streamed, will take place at 5 p.m.
