Spire Summer 2020

outcomes BAR High Scruggs sets the

F rom learning music in Dr. J.P. Jardine’s class to earning a prestigious award from the North Carolina State Bar, alumnus Mark Scruggs, class of 1977, reflects on his time at Bluefield College and the encouragement he received to set the “bars” to success. A native of Richmond, VA, Scruggs graduated from Bluefield College with a Bachelor of Arts in history and was part of the first four-year graduating class. Though not a music major, Scruggs took voice lessons and was a member of the choir throughout his four years at BC. “I played the guitar and sang in coffee houses and weddings, but I really did not have “the ear” to be a music major,” said Scruggs. “I took a year of piano and music theory under Professor Ann Scott and was terrible at both, so I stuck with voice and choir. Dr. J.P. Jardine, music professor, was a wonderful man, an inspiring choir director, and a good friend.” Scruggs recalls one instance where Dr. Jardine impacted his life. “I was going through a rough patch. I was having a voice lesson and apparently J.P. could tell I was down about something. I remember he reached in his wallet and pulled out his credit card and handed it to me saying that if I needed to get away from campus for a few days, this was mine to use. That was a very generous gesture that I have never forgotten.” After graduating from BC, Scruggs immediately went to work for Aetna Life & Casualty Insurance Company in Richmond, VA. “I spent six years with Aetna and loved every minute of my work there,” said Scruggs. “I worked with lawyers day in and day out and one day decided that I would like to do what they did.” While applying for law schools, Scruggs and his wife Kay, also a BC alumna, attended a BC Homecoming celebration. Scruggs remembers talking to former BC president, Dr. Tyer, during the celebration about applying to law school. “Dr. Tyer

In December 2019, Scruggs was selected by the North Carolina State Bar as a recipient of the John B. McMillian Distinguished Service Award. The award program honors current and retired members of the North Carolina State Bar throughout the state who have demonstrated exemplary service to the legal profession. “I try every day to improve the legal profession in North Carolina by teaching, counseling, and helping lawyers uphold the high ethical and professional standards to which we are called as lawyers,” said Scruggs. Scruggs married BC alumna, Kay, in 1981 and adopted a daughter, Fei-Lin, from China in 1994. Fei-Lin graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, in 2016 and is now working in Charlottesville, VA for a pharmaceutical research company. Aside from mentoring fellow lawyers, Scruggs is an avid runner and weightlifter, a beekeeper and lover of boxer dogs. “Bluefield College helped set the bar for me in multiple ways,” said Scruggs. “My fondest memories, however, are of my classmates, many of whom have remained life-long friends. The Christian fellowship that we shared makes me smile even today.”

suggested I look into Campbell University School of Law in North Carolina,” said Scruggs. “Like Bluefield, Campbell has a strong Baptist tradition and Dr. Tyer thought it might be to my liking.” Scruggs applied and was accepted. “It was a tremendous amount of work, but I found it intellectually stimulating and challenging.” While attending Campbell University, Scruggs was an editor of the Campbell Law Review and graduated second in his class of 85 graduates. He went on to practice law in Durham, North Carolina for fourteen years. Scruggs joined Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance Company in March 2001 as claims counsel. In May 2018, Scruggs became Senior Claims Counsel with Lawyers Mutual. Scruggs serves as a mentor to his fellow claims attorneys and a counselor for aggrieved lawyers in difficult times. Mark is a past chair of the Law Practice Management section of the North Carolina Bar Association. He has served as an Advisory Member of the State Bar Ethics Committee and the Authorized Practice Committee of the North Carolina State Bar. He also served as co-chair of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Transitioning Lawyers Commission working to address issues facing aging lawyers approaching the ends of their careers.

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