Hall of Fame
Dr. James M. Carrithers, professor and chairman of business administration and economics at Coe College, holds an unusual distinction, one unique enough in itself to merit election to the Athletic Hall of Fame. He has probably participated in and attended more athletic contests at Coe than any other person. As the son of a former Coe athletic director, an athlete himself, and the father of an athlete, Jim Carrithers has attended about 285 football games and more than 500 basketball games. And these attendance records of Coe's Number One sports fan don't take into account the baseball, tennis, track, golf, wrestling, and swimming contests he has seen or officiated, or coached. Jim Carrithers was born into an athletic family. His father was the athletic director at Coe and is a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame. As a student, Jim Carrithers won nine varsity letters in football, basketball, and track. He won first-team all-conference football honors in 1933, 1934, and 1935, and was selected to the Des Moines Register's second all-state team in each of those years. He was the No. 1 singles player on the tennis team for three years and was the conference doubles champion in 1935. He won the Courtney Award for the letterman with the highest scholastic average in 1936. Dr. Carrithers returned to his alma mater in 1956 after he had earned an M.S. degree from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. Everyone who has attended a Coe basketball game in the last 20 years has seen Jim Carrithers at the scoring table. He was also the head judge and timer at Coe swimming meets from 1968 to 1976. In honoring Jim Carrithers we honor a man who was a noteworthy athlete and who has pursued a distinguished academic career as a teacher at Coe. His induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to his lifelong involvement in sports at Coe.
