Remembering the ‘Renaissance man’ who started Strut the Hooch in Columbus
As if on cue the rain stopped, a school band began warming up, and a woman pulled a live chicken from a pet carrier to prepare for what’s become a weird, wacky, wild and wonderful tradition in downtown Columbus since 2015.
Saturday’s 2026 Strut the Hooch parade celebrated creativity and having fun, while also remembering the life and legacy of parade founder Steve Scott.
Scott, who many knew as “Captain Hooch,” died last year at the age of 82.
“It was really important for me to be here today, to be a part of Steve’s legacy,” Rachael “Smiley” White said. “The first time I met Steve, it was about 12 years ago, and I was wearing bat wings, and he goes, ‘You need to be in my parade.’”
They were friends ever since, White said.
“We definitely reflect Steve’s spirit in the parade,” she said, “I’ve been a part of it for the last eight years, and it’s absolutely amazing that the community can come together for something so wonderful.”
Retired Columbus Councilor Mimi Woodson, a member of the Tri-City Latino Association, said Scott approached the association about taking over the parade. Scott told them he was getting older and needed some help keeping the parade afloat.
“At first we were a little nervous about it,” Woodson said. “But then we said, ‘Sure,’ not knowing that in 2026 he would not be with us. So that broke our heart.”
Woodson said it was important to keep doing everything the way Scott did it, including marching “rain or shine” and awarding trophies at the parade’s conclusion
“We’re doing everything the way he would love,” she said.
Tri-City Latino Association member Betssy Dortch was busy Saturday, zipping around on a golf cart, getting participants in place and keeping everything running smoothly.
“With the support of the community, the support of Steve’s family, the Tri-City Latino (Association) was able to put the puzzle together to bring this parade to be successful,“ Dortch said.
The “icing on the cake,” Dortch said, was seeing Scott’s son, Stephen, at Saturday’s parade, wearing the iconic costume his father had worn as “Captain Hooch.”
“We had to kind of dig around to find the costume, but I found it just a couple of days ago and tried it on, and it fit great,” Stephen Scott said, “Fortunately he left me the coat and all the other little pieces, and I’ve got his white suspenders on to keep everything in place.”
Scott said he grew up in Columbus and now lives in Tacoma, Washington. He returned to Columbus for the parade and a Saturday evening celebration of life for his father.
“He started this parade to bring attention to the downtown area, to get people out and celebrate the arts in Columbus and bring attention to local artists and creators,” Scott said.
His father also volunteered with the Columbus Artists’ Guild, the Columbus Jazz Society, wrote several children’s books, wrote poems and light verse for friends and family, started a scholarship for students at Vocational Jordan High School, and much, much more, Scott said.
“He was a very, very interesting and creative person, and it feels good to come back to Columbus and keep this going for one more year,” Scott said.
Holding her chicken, Nicole de Vries didn’t hesitate about why, come rain or shine, she was participating. She described Steve Scott as a “Renaissance man” with whom she exchanged stories.
“I would meet up with him for coffee,” she said. “He would teach me about Columbus and stories, and I would teach him algebra and math.
“He was one of the most amazing people I’ve ever known in my whole life and supported just people being who they want to be. I think, as adults, we don’t get a lot of chance to play or pretend or create and just being around a community of people who do that.”
The parade concluded with an awards ceremony in front of RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. Scott helped Dortch present the awards as Woodson recorded the winners on her cellphone.
“We want it to get bigger and bigger every year,” Woodson said, “so that Steve can look from above and smile and say his legacy continues.”
