Field Scovell’s relationship with the Cotton Bowl began in the mid-1950's when he was appointed to serve on the game’s entertainment committee. In 1963, he was invited to join Felix McKnight as Co-Chairman of Team Selection.

Ten years later, he was elected CBAA president, and when his two-year term expired, Scovell assumed the role of Team Selection Chairman, a post he held from 1975 to 1992. Over the years, Field Scovell became known as “Mr. Cotton Bowl.” In memory of his remarkable leadership, the winning team in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic is awarded the Field Scovell Trophy.

The Foundation’s board determined that the best place for the organization to thrive was where Scovell made such an indelible impact. In 2000, the Scovell Scholarship Foundation officially aligned itself with the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, a partnership in education that has benefited both organizations.