I received the news indirectly yesterday but followed up with Kenny himself to make sure it wasn’t an ugly rumor. Sadly, Scott, who has been the number two guy for years (and I believe he was also Kenny’s first employee), is resigning from the company. He plans on moving farther south to a part of Texas everyone here calls “The Valley” which is south of Austin, west of San Antonio and pretty close to Mexico. This will put his wife and three daughters closer to his in-laws. Scott’s departure is on friendly terms with Kenny yet I’m still saddened. I’ve known Scott for six years so he’s become a type of relative to me. Many of the co-workers who have come and gone usually found him irritating. To me, he is a Felix type personified, countering Kenny’s Oscar (trust me, they’re polar opposites when operating the espresso machine during a rush). Once I got to know him and his facade of “Felix” lifted because I listened to what he had to say, I always dismissed the others’ criticisms of Scott as whining since those people were upset over him making them actually work.
Scott won’t be leaving Austin immediately which will give me some time to wish him a fond farewell and to thank him for all the nice things he has said to me; regarding the Round Rock store, “Steven, you rule Sundays;” and how he enjoyed catering at Apple plus the Bugs Bunny candy dispenser he gave me for my birthday.
A really sad thing, and one I personally thought would never see happen. Scott was the rare boss, who, right when you wanted to reach out and snap his neck, would say one little thing and you’d be right back in love with him. He could instill loyalty in people better than anyone. Scott will be missed!