Carl Clifton James

Mr. James, age 75, of Charlotte, died at his home on July 3, 2004.
He was born November 7, 1928 in Raleigh, NC and was the son of the late Thomas Grissom James and Elizabeth Hancock James. He was graduated from Needham Broughton High School in Raleigh, NC and Duke University in Durham, NC. While at Duke University he was a member of Phi Delta Theta, Omicron Delta Kappa and the varsity football and track teams from which he earned seven varsity letters.
Mr. James had a long career in intercollegiate athletics administration. He served as athletics director of Duke University and University of Maryland, executive director of the Sugar Bowl Classic and commissioner of the Big Eight Conference from 1980-1996. During his career he was a member of several NCAA committees, the College Football Association and the Collegiate Commissioners' Association. He received a number of awards, highlighted by being named the recipient of the James J. Corbett Memorial Award in 1996 given by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. He was also honored to be included in the Duke University Sports Hall of Fame, the Orange Bowl Classic Hall of Honor and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.
During his retirement years he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, reading and playing golf, particularly with "The Boys at The Peninsula Club".
Mr. James is survived by his wife of fifty-one years, Marjorie Pettit James; and his two daughters, Susan J. Ward, MD and her husband, Michael P. Ward, MD of Reno, NV and Sara J Mathis and her husband, Jeffrey D. Mathis of Charlotte, NC. He is also survived by his six grandchildren, Margot Elizabeth Ward and Erica Lauren Ward of Reno, NV and Jeffrey Taylor Mathis, Anna Caitlin Mathis, James Harrison Mathis and Thomas Clifton Mathis of Charlotte, NC. His sister, Barbara J. Spalding of Newport, NC also survives and his brother, Lt. Thomas G. James, Jr. preceded him in death.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, July 8, 2004 in the chapel of Harry and Bryant Company, 500 Providence Rd., Charlotte, NC.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Charlotte, 1420 East 7th St., Charlotte, NC 28204 or to Iron Dukes, Cameron Indoor Stadium, Box 90542, Durham, NC 27708-0542.
Harry and Bryant Company is serving the family of Mr. James.