James Carothers

I was fortunate to have been in Mr. Carothers first class at KU. We entered the classroom and found him (back to us) looking out a window. He didn't move. He was absorbing the moment. It seemed a long time before he spoke. He said how grateful he was for this teaching position, contrasting it to a previous time in Missouri. He turned, and only then started his class. We were spellbound. He was well prepared, relaxed, sarcastic, encouraging, and fair...one of my favorite instructors. Jim...

I was fortunate enough to have taken Dr. Carothers' Comedy and Humor course in my undergraduate career and to have been "office neighbors" during my graduate career (many, many years later). His Comedy and Humor course was so influential that it spurred my interest toward a career in academia; and, without Dr. Carothers' nudging, I may not have been so intentional about sitting my two young boys in my lap and reading Winnie-the-Pooh (with all the fun voices, of course). I think Dr. Carothers...

I have such fond memories of Jim from our duties as the co-chairs of the English Department's Awards Committee. Jim was an amazing M.C. during the annual Awards Ceremony, shaving the event's run-time from over 2 hours to just under an hour, and keeping the mood cheery and festive with his dry sense of humor. (Who wants a solemn ceremony when they are graduating, and wearing a wizard hat?!?) I also remember almost missing the announcement of my own name for a teaching prize because Jim was...