Every year, Friends of South inducts notable South alumni into the Axe Hall of Fame. This year, they honor eight accomplished alumni who The Axe had the opportunity to interview and spotlight.

Rhonda Legè Scott, class of 1978, was a track and field superstar at South Eugene High School. In 1975, Scott’s freshman year, she was the state champion in the 100m dash, got fourth in the 4×400 relay, and fifth in the 800-yard medley event.  This led the Axe to their first state title in school history. As a sophomore she earned bronze in the 100m dash, 440-yard and 880-meter medley relay teams. 

As a junior, Scott wasn’t able to compete due to a knee injury following a car accident she was in.  While this almost ended her track career, she was fortunate to be healed in time to place third in the “new” 200m dash her senior year. Scott held the 100m record at South for 43 years and is the school record-holder for the 220-yard run, 440-yard relay, and 800-yard medley relay today. Scott also held the fastest time for the 200m until 2018. 

When Scott wasn’t running, she participated in the “Synchronettes” dance team. She also mentored at a nearby elementary school and at the Hilyard Street Recreation center. Some of her best memories from this time were hanging out with the faculty and spending time with friends at the Butte. 

After high school, Scott went to the University of Oregon, where she anchored the 4×100 team in 1980. At the time this was a school record. She graduated with a Bachelor of the Arts marketing degree. 

Scott then spent 18 years working with Coca-Cola for the South African franchise.  There, she was the head of customer leadership, primarily responsible for developing a world-class customer centric organization.  In 2010, she switched to become a Global Customer Director at Nando’s, responsible for leading the global partnership across the Coca-Cola systems.  Before her position at Coca-Cola, she held various positions in foodservice and convenience retail industries.  Now, she resides in Atlanta, Georgia, and had three children with her husband Van.  

Looking back, Scott believes that track taught her many important life skills.

“Participating in team sport and running the 4 x 100 relay,” she explained, “have largely shaped who I am today and prepared me throughout my personal life, professional career and into retirement: The three most important lessons I learned are: Accountability, Adaptability and Celebrating Success.” 

Whether it was being accountable for each other in a relay race, or the need to adapt to opponents positions during the race, she believes these skills helped her succeed in other areas of her life. 

“I vividly remember the roar of the crowd, after every relay runner successfully passed the baton,” she said. “By the time Molly Schmieding passed the baton to me in the last exchange, the crowd was standing and cheering me on toward the finish line. They cheered and celebrated each baton passing milestone in the race.”

No matter how small the accomplishment – I believe it is worthy of celebrating – victory is often in advancing to the next stage without dropping the baton!” Scott is one of seven South Eugene High School women to have garnered Hall of Fame accolades, and one of 26 SEHS athletes to be named on this list.

Read more about Rhonda Legè Scott on the Friends of South website.

Article by Alyssa Coffman