“Call Me Jim.”
I first met Father James Carter when he was the President of Loyola University New Orleans. As the relatively new President & General Manager of WYES-TV, I was making the rounds of meeting the leadership of the community. And for years Loyola University New Orleans had a history of being involved with the media, having owned WWL-TV and Radio. It was natural for me to see him.
I had a nice meeting with Father Carter and invited him to speak at a luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club of New Orleans. He accepted. After lunch I asked him if he would be interested in joining the Club. He said not at that time, but would be very interested after he retired as President of the University. I dutifully made a note to follow-up at an appropriate time.
Father Carter retired from his presidency in 1995 although he kept on teaching at the school. I heard his course on science and religion was very popular.
I gave him a call, reminded him of his interest in Rotary, and invited him to lunch again at a Club meeting. He accepted and after the meeting I asked him if he would like me to propose him for membership. He said yes. He was, of course, accepted, and thereafter showed up regularly. I think he valued most the fellowship he was part of by being a member of our Club.
One of the unwritten rules in Rotary is that there are no titles in Rotary but Rotary titles. But many of the members of the Club who had attended Loyola and or were Catholic had difficulty calling Father Carter anything other than Father Carter.
So, one day I went up to him and told him about the title issue, and I asked him what he wanted to be called. He said, “Call me Jim.” I spread the word around the Club that he should be called “Jim.” Regardless, many members continued to call him Father Carter.
In 2016-17 I became Governor of Rotary District 6840. I asked every club to propose one person to receive a “Heart of the Club” Award. I presented it to each winner as I visited all 50 or so clubs in our District. Our Club chose Jim (as I referred to him). He was so appreciated by the membership that when I gave him the Award and a commemorative pin, the Club gave him a standing ovation.
I was saddened to see him leave the Club when he moved out of the area in retirement. I was doubly saddened when Peter Waring told me of his passing. He was a good friend, a good Rotarian, and … the heart of our Club. The Rotary Club of New Orleans was honored by his presence.
Randall Feldman, May 22, 2026, New Orleans