Remembering Scott Hancock: A Life Beyond the Dates

BLACKFOOT, Idaho – When Scott Hancock passed away from cancer in May, his wife Colleen felt deeply that his life story encompassed so much more than just the dates marking his birth and death.

“If Scott had penned his own obituary, it would have been straightforward: Born November 18, 1946 – Died May 18, 2025,” she shared. “But I asked him, ‘What about the dash?’ Because his true story resides there, in that space between those dates.”

Scott never thought he had a significant impact during his life. However, with him gone, Colleen is determined to show others how profoundly he actually influenced those around him.

Growing up in Pocatello during the 1950s, Scott’s life took an unexpected turn at just four years old. One night, he went to bed a joyful, healthy child, but woke up the next morning unable to walk. His frantic parents rushed him to St. Anthony Hospital, where the doctors—fresh from training at a polio clinic—recognized the signs quickly: the polio virus had damaged the nerves in his legs.

He was sent to the Elks Rehabilitation Center for Polio in Boise, where he received leg braces for support before returning home. Despite this sudden and life-altering change, his parents insisted on treating him like any other child.

“He was the youngest of five,” Colleen recounted. “His chores and responsibilities were the same as his siblings. He didn’t complain and believed that shaped him into the man he was—a regular guy with a disability.”

From a young age, he learned to be resourceful. He sold worms to fishermen, polished his brother’s shoes for a nickel, and repaired roller skates for local kids—all so he could buy little gifts for his mom.

Back then, Pocatello schools struggled to accommodate students with disabilities. Some even feared catching polio simply by touching a survivor like Scott. His mother fought tirelessly for his right to an education, eventually helping to establish a Handicapped School at Idaho State University that benefited him and many others.

He returned to public school in seventh grade, navigating the halls with crutches and a wheelchair. He graduated from the first class of Highland High School in 1964, and later enrolled as an art major at Idaho State University.

Colleen believes this was just the start of his many achievements. Scott played a key role in crafting Idaho’s Americans with Disabilities Act legislation and served on numerous state councils for those with disabilities. He also directed a program for seniors in northern Idaho, working tirelessly to set up meal services and financial aid for those in need.

Eventually, he ventured into construction, spending 34 years building and renovating homes across northern Idaho, often working from his wheelchair or crawling on the ground.

“He found unique ways to tackle challenges,” Colleen said. “For instance, he kept a marble in his pocket to roll it on the floor to check if it was level. His wheelchair never held him back from pursuing his passions.”

Scott made friends with young drivers, hitching rides until he could afford his own car. When he finally bought one, he modified it with hand controls, allowing him to hunt and fish across Idaho.

The joy of riding his Honda Gold Wing motorcycle—modified so he could drive from his wheelchair—was unparalleled for him.

He was also a prolific writer, contributing to local publications and magazines like Idaho Magazine and Sports Afield. Yet he often downplayed his work, believing there were many others who could write better. “These are just silly little stories,” he would say.

Though many asked him to write a memoir about his life, he shrugged it off, claiming, “Nobody would believe I really did those things.”

After returning to southeast Idaho and settling in Blackfoot, he hesitantly “retired.” That’s when he began penning the “little stories” about his life, which ultimately developed into two volumes of “Tales from the High Lonesome.” These stories resonated so well that he started a third volume before passing.

Colleen has since published the third volume on Amazon, fulfilling a promise to her husband, and intends to compile his remaining writings into a final fourth book.

His books are now available through various platforms, but Colleen stresses that his writing is just one facet of his accomplishments and his essence.

“He loved and raised children who weren’t his biologically, sharing his heart freely. He made friends wherever he went and thrived on social connections,” she said.

For Colleen, honoring his legacy means shedding light on the impact he failed to recognize in himself.

“I’m not the writer. My husband was. His story reflects resilience. I’m here to convey what I’ve experienced and learned from him, sharing a bit of his dash with you,” she concluded.