Harry Glenn Scammel was born in Dallas Texas on August 28, 1948. At age 74, he passed away at home in Mclean Virginia on October 29, 2022. Glenn joins his parents Byrt and Glenda Scammel and eldest sister Tresa Scammel in spiritual eternity. He is survived by brothers Greg and Mark Scammel, sisters Cindy Brewington Clapp (Ron) and Cathy Reed (Roy), former wife Van Tran Scammel, five nieces and one nephew.
Glenn spent most of his youth in various neighborhoods around the East Dallas area of Lakewood and near White Rock Lake. At age 8, his family moved to southern California for 2 years when his father's job was transferred. What began as a modest Lionel train set quickly expanded to fill much of the garage, a prelude to Glenn's lifelong fascination with all forms of motorized transport.
Glenn attended elementary school at Saint Thomas Aquinas in Dallas except during that California detour. He graduated second among classmates at Jesuit High School in Dallas and earned the rank of Eagle Scout while in the Explorer program. A wide range of extra-curriculars included 4-year participation in the National Honor Society, Science Club, Speech Team and Debaters.
Glenn's class of '66 was the last to attend both Jesuit's founding location on Oak Lawn Avenue and what was then a shiny new campus on Inwood Road. His surviving Jesuit classmates might still recall his '59 VW "beetle" in the new parking lot, when VWs were still unusual on Texas roads.
He graduated from Yale University with a BA degree in History and Department Honors in the Class of 1970. At Yale, Glenn also joined and completed the Naval ROTC program. During military service deferment, he attended Harvard Law School, earning a Juris Doctorate in 1973.
Glenn applied his academic rigor and well-honed debating skills throughout a distinguished legal career. First in the U.S. Navy as a Legal Assistance Officer at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi Texas and subsequently as an Appellate Defense Counsel with JAG Corps in Washington DC. After leaving the Navy at the rank of lieutenant, he worked briefly in the corporate legal world with Kilgore and Kilgore in Dallas, where he had interned as a summer clerk.
In 1978 Glenn found an ideal job suiting his aptitude, skills, and interests. He became Legal Counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation Committee while employed by the Interstate Commerce Commission. For almost 30 years, he researched and litigated regulatory matters primarily involving railroads, frequently attending congressional hearings as an expert advisor. He retired in 2007 as Senior Counsel.
Glenn's knowledge of ships and cars was extensive, but his interest and love of airplanes and aviation was boundless. Building an extensive collection of scale model airplane kits during his youth was an early indicator. As an adult, he could identify and provide amazing details on almost any plane, often with encyclopedic knowledge.
Glenn was a lifelong and prolific reader, while particularly fond of history and the military. His incredible memory for dates and details was a frequent resource to friends, family, and workmates. His keen intellect, phenomenal memory, and clever wit will be sorely missed.
A brief inurnment service with military honors will be held at 9:15 am on Friday June 9th 2023 at Dallas- Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas Texas.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to The Tailhook Educational Foundation, which is sponsored by a fraternal organization supporting aircraft carriers and sea-based aviation.