Lou Scales started at fullback in 1936, 1937 and 1938 for the Glencoe Yellow Jackets in high school. Glencoe was 17-1-0 in Scales junior and senior seasons.

As a senior, he was the leading rusher for the undefeated Glencoe team of 1938. Scales earned All-Etowah County and All-State football honors and was an All-State selection in basketball while at Glencoe.

Scales lettered at fullback for Alabama under the legendary Frank Thomas. His college career was interrupted by World War II and his entry into the Armed Services.

After his discharge from the military, he continued his dream of playing collegiate sports by being the only senior member of the football team to play in the 1946 Rose Bowl, where the University of Alabama defeated Southern California 34-14 in the Tides last appearance in Pasadena until 2009.

Coach Scales began the pursuit of his dream of coaching, by taking the head coaching job at Thompson in 1946. After spending a year in business he ultimately returned home and landed the head football coaching position at Alexandria High School, which he held for 38 years.

His 1952 team finished 9-0 and were named State Champions by the Birmingham News for District 3.

In 1957, the Valley Cubs were undefeated at 7-0-2. The 1972 team completed regular season play 9-1-0 then went 1-1 in the playoffs. The 1974 Cubs ended the regular season 10-0-0 before finishing 12-1-0 overall.

After going 8-2-0 in the regular season and finishing as Area runner-up, the 1985 Valley Cubs ran off five consecutive playoff wins to claim the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 4A State Championship. In the title game, Alexandria downed Elba 35-0. This would be his last team at Alexandria before retiring as the head football coach.

Scales was named the 1985 Class 4A Coach of the Year by the ASWA. He retired from coaching in 1985 after 38 seasons at Alexandria with a record of 219 wins, 144 losses and 13 ties.

Scales served as president of the state coaches association and his 1966 basketball team was runner-up in the state tournament. In 1995 he was elected to the Alabama High School Athletic Association Coaches Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Calhoun County Hall of Fame.

Coach Scales passed away on July 18, 2003.