“Life is full of decisions. Often, they come fast, and you cannot hesitate or delay. The real power in life comes when you are confident in your decision making before you ever come to the fork in the road,” said John Scarbrough (1992) to the Class of 2024 last Tuesday evening during the Senior Night Banquet at the Country Club of Jackson.
The Distinguished Alumni Award recipient recounted some of the critical decisions he has faced in his 50 years. Some were heartbreaking, but they led to resilience and growth. Some resulted in significant opportunities, opening doors to success. Some improved the lives of others, showing the value of compassion and community. His journey is a testament to the transformative power of a “decided heart” that has considered the future of what life can be.
“Being decisive is not always about being right,” he said. “It is about having the courage and discipline to make a decision and then going about making it right.”
Scarbrough is the dealer principal/owner/operator of Paul Moak Automotive, Inc., representing the Honda and Subaru brands in Jackson. A three-generation family-operated business, the company is soon to celebrate its 80th anniversary. He has worked in every department of the car dealership. As general manager, he works with team managers to continuously improve the dealership’s customer experience.
Scarbrough outlined nine decisions that, if gotten right, will make all the difference in life. They ranged from deciding to be decisive to determining who will be the master of your life.
One decision included attending church. Statistics show most students leaving high school will not participate in church, he said. “I have what I call a decided heart,” Scarbrough said about attending church throughout college. It did not bother him that often he was the only person in his dorm who got up for church on Sundays. “It is said, ‘A tree falls the way it leans.’ Be careful which way you lean. Habits are formed in college that become part of who you are as an adult,” he remarked.
Scarbrough also encouraged graduates to take initiative, particularly in the workplace. “Do the right thing without being told to do so,” he advised. “Close to that is doing the right thing after only being asked once. Employers will want you if you can demonstrate initiative.”
He delved into relationships, encouraging students to decide carefully on a mate. “Choose a mate who is going to give you good advice. Choose wisely,” he said. He also spoke to the guidance in the Bible about a husband’s role in the family. “A real man loves his wife,” he stressed. “A real man is faithful to his wife.”
He and his wife, the former Jeanne Elizabeth Moak, were married in 1997. They are the parents of three boys: Thomas Hudson Scarbrough, who passed away as a child, John Moak Scarbrough ’22, and Jacob Montgomery Scarbrough, ’25. They attend First Baptist Church in Jackson. He is also active in community service, serving on boards and initiating programs to improve the lives of others; as evidenced by his recent role as Chairman of the Board for Friends of Children’s Hospital.
Scarbrough said his motivation to serve at Friends came from the loss of his son to cancer. He noted, “I had a choice to make, to be negative and bitter or to give back to the very hospital where my son’s life was stilled. The kids in that hospital became my central mission.” Scarbrough was a member of the Friends Board for fourteen years.
Read introductory biographical remarks from this year’s event
