Scott Carter Williams

Scott grew up in Prairie Village, KS and enjoyed an outstanding education at Belinder Elementary School, Indian Hills Junior High School, and Shawnee Mission East High School. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Kansas State University, where he studied both print and electronic journalism. After graduation, Scott took an internship in photo journalism at The Salina Journal that turned into a full-time job that lasted ten years.

Following his Salina Journal career, Scott decided to transition to video production in Bunker Hill, and became a producer/director at Smoky Hills Public Television. Five years into that position he learned of a job opening at KTWU-TV on the Washburn University campus in Topeka, and was hired as a team member for the PBS program Sunflower Journeys, where he produced various program segments and shows for twenty-one years.

In 2006, Scott met James Harrel and three years later traveled to Des Moines, Iowa where they were married, as marriage between two men was not legal in Kansas at that time.

Besides photography/videography and documenting life wherever he could, Scott’s other passion through the years was British cars. He cherished the time he spent restoring and tinkering on his cars, and lost count of the number that had passed through his garages. This hobby allowed Scott to meet and spend time with friends from all over the US and beyond.

Scott died quietly at home on October 3, 2021, after a nearly two year battle with pancreatic cancer. He is preceded in death by his mother, Jan Williams, and his father, Curtis Williams. He is survived by his husband, James Harrel of Topeka, and his sister, Lisa Drake of Olathe.

There will be no visitation or funeral services. A private family graveside inurnment for Scott will be at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Kansas City, MO. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heartland Men's Chorus of Kansas City, MO and the Washburn University School of Nursing Fund for Excellence, Topeka, KS.