Supporter. Encourager. Racer.

Last Friday, Murray State lost icon James Carter.

Carter, vice president of Institutional Advancement died while undergoing cancer treatments at Vanderbilt Medical Center.

President Bob Davies informed the faculty and staff on Saturday afternoon, asking them to keep Carter’s family and friends in their thoughts and prayers.

“While we mourn his passing, his legacy will be forever celebrated in the countless lives he touched, mainly because of the students he paved the way for at Murray State,” Davies said. “He has made a lasting impact on our University community.”

Murray State hosted Carter’s funeral service amidst the snow at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Lovett Auditorium.

Carter, a Murray State employee for more than 27 years, graduated from Murray State in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism and in 1986 he obtained a Master of Science in Communications. He was also a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha national fraternity.

After being a chapter consultant for Pi Kappa Alpha in Memphis, Tenn., he returned to Murray State as the director of student activities from 1981-1986. He then transferred to be the director of the Murray State Curris Center until 1989.

Although these positions included a heavy work load, Carter was also involved with the National Association of Campus Activities and volunteered to serve twice as the host coordinator for the Contemporary Concert Management and Production Workshop.

Carter worked elsewhere for a few years, but made his way back to Murray State in 1996. He served as the director of university relations for the next four years and then was promoted to the position of vice president for Institutional Advancement. As vice president he was responsible for development, communication and the alumni and University event venues at Murray State.

While working at Murray State he was a strong supporter of the music department and worked diligently to create ties to the Nashville Association of Talent Directors to help benefit our students. He also created the Lovett Live Concert Series.

Carter also ardently promoted the student exchange program with Quingdao Agricultural University in China.

“(Carter) fought tirelessly for our students in providing them opportunities to attend and be successful at Murray State,” Davies said.

Although he took on many different roles while he was employed at Murray State, Carter was always focused on one thing—the students, and that still rings true today.

As a way to honor Carter’s dedicated service to the University, Carter’s Kids on Campus, an endowment composed of gifts from his coworkers, family and friends, is being established through the Murray State University Foundation.

Carter’s fund will assist potential first-generation college students from 18 different counties in our region as well as Davies county in making arrangements to visit Murray State’s campus. The fund will cover the cost of transportation, meals and campus related events for high school groups to visit campus.

Donations to Carter’s Kids on Campus can be made online at murraystate.edu/give as well as in personal checks.

Murray State employees can also donate via payroll deduction, given the appropriate paperwork is filled out.

Story by Mari-Alice Jasper, Assistant News Editor