The Dash That Defined Him: The Legacy of Scott Hancock

BLACKFOOT – When Scott Hancock passed away from cancer in May, his wife Colleen realized his life was defined by much more than mere dates.

“If Scott had penned his own obituary, it might have been straightforward: Born November 18, 1946 – Died May 18, 2025,” Colleen noted. “I asked him, ‘What about the dash?’ His real essence, I think, is captured in that dash.”

Scott often felt he hadn’t made a significant impact during his life. But now, in his absence, Colleen is determined to share just how much he mattered. A tremendous amount.

Scott’s journey began in Pocatello during the 1950s. At just four years old, he went to bed one night as a vibrant, healthy child. However, the next morning, he awoke unable to walk. His parents hurried him to St. Anthony Hospital, where doctors, who had just come from a polio clinic on the East Coast, quickly recognized the signs of the virus attacking his leg nerves.

He was then sent to the Elks Rehabilitation Center for Polio in Boise, receiving leg braces to support his weight when he returned home. Still, his parents refused to treat him any differently.

“He was the youngest in a family of five,” Colleen recalled. “He was expected to do his chores just like his siblings, act appropriately, and not complain. He believed this made him who he was—a regular person with a disability.”

From a young age, Scott learned to be resourceful. He sold worms to fishermen at Island Park, shined his brother’s shoes for a nickel, and repaired roller skates for local kids—all to buy little gifts for his mom.

Back then, Pocatello schools were uncertain about accommodating students with disabilities, and there was a stigma that survivors of polio could transmit the virus. Scott’s mother fought fiercely for his right to education and helped establish the Handicapped School at Idaho State University for him and many others.

Scott returned to public schooling in seventh grade, using crutches and a wheelchair. He graduated from Highland High School’s inaugural class in 1964 and later enrolled at Idaho State University to study art.

According to Colleen, this was just the beginning of his impressive achievements. Scott played a role in drafting Idaho’s Americans with Disabilities Act and served on numerous state councils advocating for people with disabilities. He directed a senior program in northern Idaho, traveling statewide to set up meal services and obtain financial assistance for seniors.

Eventually, he embraced construction. For 34 years, he built and remodeled homes across northern Idaho, often working from his wheelchair or crawling on the ground.

“He always found unique solutions to problems. For instance, while building houses, he kept a marble in his pocket to check if floors were straight by seeing if it rolled,” Colleen shared. “Being in a wheelchair never stopped him from pursuing what he wanted.”

He befriended those with fast cars and hitched rides until he could afford his own vehicle. When he finally bought a car, he adjusted it with hand controls to go hunting and fishing in Island Park and southeastern Idaho.

One of his greatest joys was riding his Honda Gold Wing motorcycle, specially adapted so he could drive it from his wheelchair.

He also engaged in writing, contributing to local newspapers and publications like Idaho Magazine, American Motorcyclist, and Sports Afield.

Still, he often downplayed his work. “So many others do a much better job,” he would comment. “These are just silly little stories anyone could write.”

Scott was asked numerous times to author a book about his life but always responded, “Nobody would believe I really did those things.”

When the Hancocks returned to southeast Idaho and settled in Blackfoot, Scott hesitantly “retired.” It was during this time that he began to write the “little stories” about his life, which eventually led to two volumes titled “Tales from the High Lonesome.” They were so well received that he started a third volume before he passed.

Colleen has since published the third volume, now available online, fulfilling a promise she made to him. She also plans to compile his remaining writings into a fourth book, creating a final collection.

Scott’s works can be found on various platforms, including Amazon and at Kesler’s Market in Blackfoot.

Yet, Colleen stresses that writing was only a small facet of Scott’s many accomplishments.

“He nurtured children who weren’t his own and loved them deeply. He gave from his heart, made friends everywhere, and cherished being around people,” she said.

For Colleen, sharing Scott’s legacy involves honoring the influence he never fully recognized in himself.

“I’m not the writer; he was. His story exemplifies resilience. I just try to convey what I learned from him and share a bit of his dash,” Colleen concluded.