Myrtle Gladys Scott was born October 26, 1905 in Buckley, Illinois. Scott received her B.A. degree in romance languages and history from DePauw University in 1927. She took her M.A. and Ph.D., both in physical education, at the State University of Iowa in 1931 and 1937. Dr. Scott was the first woman at SUI to receive a Ph.D. in the field of physical education.

Scott served as associate professor of physical education at Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, South Dakota, 1928-1933. She was director of physical education for women at State Teachers College in Dickinson, North Dakota, 1933-1934.

She joined the faculty of the State University of Iowa in 1934 as instructor of women's physical education. Dr. Scott became assistant professor in 1938 and associate professor in 1941. She was made full professor in 1947 and department head in 1955. Her area of research and publication was biomechanics of human motion. Dr. Scott established the SUI women's intercollegiate athletic program in 1973 and hired Christine Grant as its first athletic director.

Scott retired in 1974 and died November 5, 1990. The M. Gladys Scott Scholarship Fund was established to assist graduate students with research in physical education.

Denise Anderson, January 2008