If you often muse that Duke has the prettiest, most well-kept campus, extend your thanks to Scott Thompson and his dedicated team of 70. Thompson serves as director of landscape services, responsible for everything from tree management, athletic field care, perennial bed maintenance and pest management, to irrigation, snow removal and even litter control. The Eastern North Carolina native, who has worked at Duke for 18 years, says he loves it all – especially that quiet, post-game moment when he’s standing inside an empty football stadium taking it all in and already planning the care and upkeep for the next home contest.
Thompson, 41, is a true-blue family guy, praising his small-town upbringing in Fremont, North Carolina – his extended family is still there – and his wife, Kristen, whom he’s known since he was 13. A graduate of North Carolina State University, Thompson worked in the golf course business for several years before starting his career in Blue Devil territory. At home, he’s busy raising five girls ages 2 to 12, and while his household is admittedly energetic, his superpower is staying calm amid most storms. That and making sure our flower beds are colorful and our pristine turf grass is cut just right. “I enjoy what I do,” he says, praising his team and the campus environment where superbly kept vistas are a character in our university’s story.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? Being a girl dad. We have a boisterously joyful house full of five girls that keep us on our toes and keep us laughing all the time.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? It’s a combination of family and friends. Being with the people I love, enjoying good conversation, laughter and delicious food.
If you could be something other than what you do in your current role, what would it be? I have two things. I’m from the country and I love the pace of life away from the bright lights of the city. I enjoy cultivating and working with my hands, so farming would be at the top of my list. I love that type of work, and I have great respect for the people who choose to do it. One of my first jobs was near an Air Force base so I got to enjoy watching F-15s and fighter jets tear up the sky. If I weren’t firmly planted on the ground, I think I’d love to fly.
What is your favorite journey? I love to drive. A road trip to a new and faraway place where we get to explore and adventure awaits.
What is your most marked characteristic? I’m pretty steady. It takes a lot to get me excited, which is good and bad at any given time. In a work environment and even at home, I stay pretty level in most circumstances.
When and where were you the happiest? I’ve gotten to experience this five times, so I would say the birth of a child and, more specifically, the moments just following the birth when it’s just the three of you. Just you, your wife and new child. It’s truly magical.
What is your greatest extravagance? A good pair of sunglasses. Being outside as much as I am, I protect my eyes as much as I can. There is tremendous value in having a good pair. I wear Costas. I never leave home without them. When you see me on campus, I’ll be wearing sunglasses most times.
Which living person do you most admire? It’s my bride, Kristen. She really inspires me daily on how she loves and cares for our family so well. (They celebrated 19 years of marriage this year).
What talent – outside of those you utilize in your current job – would you most like to have? If I could have a talent, I’d love to be able to play an instrument. I have dabbled in trying to play the guitar. Obviously, it requires a lot of attention and practice, so I haven’t given it the time it probably needs.
What is the trait you like most in others? Ownership. Good or bad, taking responsibility for what is yours is very important to me. We communicate that with our team often. It’s one of our core values in our group. I want folks to feel good about taking responsibility for the things they did well, and I also want them to take ownership for the things they didn’t, so we can learn from it.
What do you most value in your friends? I think loyalty.
Who is your favorite hero of fiction and why? That would be Aslan from “The Chronicles of Narnia.” To me, what is shown there is an incredible display of courage and wisdom and sacrificial servant-hearted leadership.
Who is your favorite hero of sports? My heroes across the board are groundskeepers in sports. Whether you are a sports turf manager or a golf course superintendent, it’s the men and women who work tirelessly behind the scenes so athletes can perform at the highest level. Behind every great athlete and the performance they put on the field, there’s a team of people who went before them so that they are able to do their jobs.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Something that I say often is “I’ve got confidence in you.” I say that to my people at work. I say that to my kids at home. I want them to feel inspired and know that I truly do have confidence in them.
What makes you laugh the most? Kristen and I love to laugh together. More specifically, it’s the curiosity of our kids. There’s great truth in the saying “Kids say the darndest things.”
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I tend to be a head-down kind of guy. I can get lost in the work that is right in front of me. I would love to be someone who looks up and out a bit more often.
What is your motto? People or places – leave them better than you found them.
What is the possession that you most treasure and why? It would have to be my wedding ring. It’s a simple gold band, but it carries tremendous significance and symbolism. It’s the only thing that goes with me everywhere I go.
What is your favorite music (for relaxing, driving, working out)? I love all kinds of music, but especially 80s and 90s country. I love the creativity behind it. I love George Strait and then there’s also bluegrass. I love Ricky Skaggs. He’s one of my favorites and I think he’s great. My kids love it, too. We took them to see him in concert last year and we had a great time.
What is your favorite go-to snack (and when do you attack it)? I’m not an overly snacky person. But if I’m going to snack on something – I love peanut butter in all forms. Whether by itself, on crackers, on toast, on fruit, ice cream. I do appreciate it.
What is your favorite spot on the Duke campus? Duke has so many unique places. If I had to choose just one, I would say Wallace Wade Stadium – the history that comes with that place is truly special. Being one of the oldest facilities on West Campus … the home of the Rose Bowl. I’ve spent countless days and nights experiencing the pageantry of game days, but what I really love about it is the stillness before and after a game, when it’s just me and the field and everything is quiet. It’s really special. The work that goes into preparing it starts immediately, the night after the game, when we are already thinking how we’ll improve it and get it ready for the next one.
What is the best advice you ever received about life – and who gave it? Be where your boots are. It means being present. Fully. Whether it’s at home, at work, whatever moment you are at during the day, take it in and be present. It was a wise man on a trout stream in Colorado who shared it with me. I do enjoy fishing.
What is one thing you’d like tell the Duke alums about your role at Duke and how you do your job as director of landscape services? I believe strongly in the importance of place and how much one’s physical environment matters. By its very nature, Duke University is a beautiful place. It is a tremendous privilege to lead the team that is tasked with caring for and cultivating this beauty. Throughout the years we have seen our campus grow and develop so many wonderful world leaders and to know that our work has influence in their lives is truly special. Our vision in Landscape Services is to “Cultivate a Campus Where Blue Devils Thrive” and I see this tangibly lived out every day.