ARDMORE — Retired Army Col. Chuck Scott not only spent most of his military career strategizing how to combat terrorism as a military intelligence expert and authority on the Middle East — he has been a victim of terrorism himself.

For 444 days between 1979 and 1981, Scott was among 51 American hostages held in the United States Embassy in Tehran, Iran. Amazingly, he emerged from the ordeal psychologically unscathed.

Scott is the second speaker in the 2002-03 Profiles and Perspectives community enrichment programs scheduled and sponsored by The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. His program for the public is at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, in the Plainview School Auditorium, 1140 S. Plainview Road in Ardmore. All Profiles programs are free to the public. Earlier in the day, Scott will speak to area students.

Since his ordeal in Iran, Scott has been an active author and public speaker, sharing his techniques for harnessing and managing stress and change, and presenting his formula for mastering adversity and despair, turning them instead into success and serenity.

His extended captivity enabled Scott to gain special insight into the minds of the terrorists, which he shares during public presentations. He will discuss his personal hostage experience and the abilities developed to survive it, as well as various aspects of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including Islamic fundamentalism, the declining potency of the "oil weapon," the Arab-Israeli conflict, the Middle Eastern psyche, Arab nationalism and Zionism in conflict, the renaissance of patriotism in America, and the Iran-Iraq war.

"We are excited to bring a person of Col. Scott’s caliber to the Ardmore area," said Mary Kate Heltzel, member of the Noble Foundation Profiles and Perspectives Committee. "The public has a unique opportunity to learn from his rare insight into the past and present conflicts in the Middle East."

Col. Chuck Scott retired from the Army as a full colonel in 1981 after more than 31 years of military service. During his career, he received numerous honors, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star and the Bronze Star.

For additional information about this or other Profiles and Perspectives programs, or to propose a future program, contact Mary Kate Heltzel, Noble Foundation program associate, by calling (580) 223-5810.

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Photo:
Col. Chuck Scott

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a non-profit organization conducting agricultural, forage biotechnological, and plant biology research; providing grants to numerous non-profit charitable, educational and health organizations; and assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs.

To learn more, visit the Noble Foundation Web site at http://www.noble.org.

More news releases available at www.noble.org/Press_Release