Dr. Scot Chrisman, 1945-2011
We were saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Scot Chrisman last week at his home in Knoxville. Doc — that’s what we called him, “Doc” — was a great friend to all of us at CBR Southeast.
He led an interesting life, to say the least. As a younger man, he was a medical doctor specializing in psychiatry. He later ran a construction company. By the time we knew him, he had morphed into a marketing guru/consultant. That’s quite a transformation! He created 4 Aces Web Consulting and he loved to get his websites into the top positions on Google.
Doc had a tremendous influence on our work at CBR that will live on for many years. He created the Pro Life on Campus theme that is featured in our website, fundraising programs, and printed materials.
Based on extensive study of our work, he suggested that our “unique selling proposition” is that our projects are winning hearts, changing minds, and saving lives. He showed us how to structure our website to not only say it, but also prove it.
We had been talking about what to name our website. We thought about CBRSoutheast, ProLifeSoutheast, ProLifeSE, and a host of other ideas, none of which we liked very much. But then one morning I walked into his office (a table at the Panera Bread on North Peters Road) and immediately noted the gleam in his eye. He told me he had solved our problem. ProLifeOnCampus.com had come to him at about 2 o’clock in the morning, so he went online and just bought it for us. It was perfect.
He also helped us conceptualize what we do and talk about it in ways that would resonate with a larger percentage of the general public. You can see his fingerprints all over our latest promotional video. He told me that if he could help us market the controversial work we do at CBR, he could help anybody market anything!
This very blog was his idea.
Doc was a man of ideas. Every week or two, he had a new idea that would make us all rich. A week later, that can’t-miss idea was forgotten and he was furiously working on the next one. One day he was figuring out a way to sell movies; a week later, he was marketing emu oil. I fully expected that eventually he would hit on that big break-through that would make our Doc rich and famous. I’m sorry he didn’t have more time to pursue that dream.
Doc loved God and country; you can be sure of that. When we weren’t talking business, we were talking religion and politics. Those were his two favorite topics. And mine. It was always a lot of fun, never boring. We didn’t always agree on theological matters, but I could always count on hearing a unique perspective that was worth considering.
This is a sad time for all of us left behind, but I know that Doc is enjoying his eternal reward. I look forward to seeing him again. That is our promise:
Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26)
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:7)For more on our assurance of eternal life in Jesus Messiah, go to www.thebiblepost.com/bible-scriptures-on-eternal-life.
Hey Doc, if they have a Panera Bread in Heaven, save me a table next to yours!
.
Tags: Doc, Panera Bread, Scot Chrisman
This entry was posted on Sunday, July 31st, 2011 at 11:39 pm and is filed under Pro Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
11 Responses to “Dr. Scot Chrisman, 1945-2011”
Leave a Reply
August 1st, 2011 at 11:51 am
Wonderful tribute even though I didn’t know him. Especially the Scripture at end. Jesus is our Hope.
August 1st, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Scot and I, along with our friend Donna were collaborating on one of his ideas. We hope that we are able to bring it to fruition in his honor. It is what he would have wanted. He was always working on the next big thing, but he wasn’t just thinking of himself. He wanted to find that thing that would give him the financial freedom to do what he wanted most, and that was to help more people. Donna and I are both working mothers trying to care for large families, he wanted financial freedom and a good life for us just as much as he wanted for himself, perhaps more so. We are lost without him. He had an intelligence to match his heart. Both of which were full of hope and goodness. He is missed.
August 1st, 2011 at 7:11 pm
I didn’t know Scot but am encouraged to hear of those who found an opportunity to serve the Lord in helping with this ministry.
August 1st, 2011 at 9:25 pm
Tina, So glad to hear the Mention of Donna! I have been worried sick that she was working away and sending him e-mails and didn’t know the news. I should have known he had shared her efforts with someone else, that was just his style.
I will sleep better now.
August 2nd, 2011 at 12:02 pm
I met Dr. Scot in 2007 in his office (Table in Panera North Peters). I was working on programming for several projects and had been sitting at a table near him for several weeks. One day, he walked over while I was getting coffee and introduced himself. We began with business, entrepreneurship, family and came around to church. He asked about my church life and I responded that I was an Elder at Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church. I could tell he was very knowledgable in scripture but could feel his disconnect with denominations and corp religion. He struck me as very wise from the first moment.
He continued to offer me support and guidance. His insight was phenomenal. He could look at you for a few moments, ask you a couple of questions and tell you why you were struggling with taking that next step in your business.
In 2008 I formed a group of super-smart entrepreneurial types as a circle of advisors. We would be each-others Advisory Board. Dr. Scot was my first recruit. He brought something very special to the mix.
After meeting for a while with this intimate group, EOK was born and Dr. Scot was the first to signup for an account. He gave his time willingly to help every member be as successful as possible. You can hear his voice leading those first few podcasts. We also have a 13 week series he led that many say is the best business class they’ve ever attended.
He is missed but I’m sure he is cheering us on from the stands right now.
August 2nd, 2011 at 12:11 pm
Fletcher–I didn’t know Doc but want to meet him at some later date, along with Jesus and all the babies Doc worked to save thru your ministry.
August 2nd, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Ditto to Fletcher and Leo. Doc was a very special, unique person, who lived his life as he knew Jesus would wish. He has now heared “well done …….! PTL
August 2nd, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Dr. Scot was a dear friend of mine this is a lovely tribute. He helped me through so many struggles of my life, and taught me to “keep the good and leave the bad”. never once did he give me advice that did not put me in the right direction. He was so full of life and wisdom. I wish that everyday when I go to work I’m not praying to see that big smile and laptop sitting down ready to talk, but that’s how it will be now and i must accept it. I love you Dr. Scot and i will forever “stay sweet”.
August 2nd, 2011 at 9:26 pm
Ricky I believe that Donna was actually the one who contacted Dr. Scots sister when she did not hear from him in a few days she became concerned. I am sad that his sister had to find out that her brother had passed, but grateful that Donna took the initiative to contact her. I shudder to think of the alternative.
Donna is devastated. She was very close to him and had suffered much loss already in recent months. She is a very special person and I think she will honor Dr. Scots memory by continuing on with their work.
I am so grateful to have shared this short time working with Dr. Scot and for his introduction of Donna to me. Two great people who have greatly impacted my life in very positive ways. I am honored to call them friend.
August 3rd, 2011 at 3:54 am
I dreamed about DrScot last night. He was in Panera Bread surrounded by so many people. I couldn’t get near him because of the crowd. He just kept smiling at me and giving me the thumbs up. I woke up feeling a sense of peace. He is very happy where he is now and I know he is watching over us.
It is sad that we have never met. The last email I got from him Wednesday night (July 27) he told me about his plans of visiting the Philippines on December. I guess that visit came earlier. But we did get in touch everyday for the past 10 months. He was not just my boss, he was a very close big brother.
We were on our way to building an online empire. Now that he is gone, I am sure that he would not want me to stop there. Rest assured that with the help of his family and close friends, his legacy will live on.
I miss you so much, Captain! Please come visit me in my dreams whenever you can.
August 17th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Aloha all,
I am Kehau, Scot’s sister-in-law, and it’s been so nice reading all your comments and love for Brother Scot. Please, if you all could, go to the Family’s memorial website for Scot at http://www.scot-chrisman.memory-of.com, and add your comments there too….even if you need to cut and paste. We hope to make a hardcopy memorial book of all the tributes to Scot, and can only do it through their website. I’m going to reference Fletcher’s blog on the memorial site, but it will not show all your loving comments, which I’m sure others of our family would like to see.
Thanks very much for all your kind words.