DISTINGUISHED GRAD

Connie Scott Solomon went from Pittsburg to a life of adventure and service.
On Sunday she will be honored as USD 250 Pittsburg Community Schools 2008 Distinguished Alumnus.
“I’m very honored by this award,” said Solomon, who resides in Colorado. “I don’t care where you went to high school, you keep your school in your heart. It’s a very formative time.”
Born in Springfield, Mo., she grew up in Pittsburg, a daughter of the late Arthur M. Scott, architectural engineer who designed many local buildings, and Mrs. Christine Scott, who has been active in preserving Pittsburg’s past, as well as beautifying the current community.
After graduating from PHS in 1958, Solomon went off to the University of Kansas to study nursing. “I changed directions at the age of 20 and went on an exchange to Scotland,” she said. “I lived with a family there in a very small town and turned 21 in Scotland. This prepared me for a lot of things in the future.”
She praised her parents for allowing her to go off on this “experiment in international living.”
“I was an adventurer, and they let me adventure,” Solomon said. “I don’t know if I would do that today — it’s a different world.”
After returning from Scotland she changed her major, earning a bachelor of science in education and a master of art in special education from KU.
She began her career as a first grade teacher in Kansas City, Kan., then became director of the University of Kansas Medical Center Hospital School. “We had a team of teachers who worked with children receiving long-term care,” Solomon said. “I also started a school for teen mothers, then worked as a probation officers.”
After her marriage, she moved to Colorado and became director of a school for children with Down syndrome.
She came to the attention of U.S. Sen. William Armstrong because of a program she had designed for volunteers to help troubled youth, and he offered her a job. In 1984 she became his field director, handling casework and serving constituents in Teller, Park, Elbert and El Paso Counties in Colorado.
Following Armstrong’s retirement, she served as an area representative for U.S. Rep. Hank Brown, Colorado. She completed her career by serving as chief of staff for Congressman Joel Hefley, Colorado, who had offices in Denver, Colorado Springs and Washington, D.C.
“I think the most interesting time was 9/11,” Solomon said. “It was a very emotional time. I was in Kansas City with my mother when I received a telephone call early in the morning and was told to turn on the TV. I did, and the second World Trade Center tower was being struck.”
She had to return to Colorado immediately, but all non-military flights were grounded. “I had a rental car, and the car company let me drive it to Colorado,” Solomon said.
She retired in 2004, and Hefley read a tribute to her that was made part of the June 17, 2004 Congressional Record. “Ms. Solomon has dedicated her life and professional careers to assisting and improving the lives of others,” he said. “Her perseverance and commitment to her fellow man is certainly uncommon ... a truly unique and compassionate friend.”
“I’ve always put my family ahead of my career,” Solomon said. “My daughter is a dentist, and my son is now chief resident in internal medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. The big thing in my life now is the birth of my first grandchild.”
Solomon said she has always loved people. “I especially love children, but everybody is fascinating, and everybody has a story,” she said. “I’ll be giving a short speech to the PHS graduates on Sunday, and one thing I’ll tell them is that you don’t get anywhere in life alone.”