Featured obituary
Professor Emeritus of Kinesiology James Richard “Rick” Carpenter Jr. M.Ed. ’72 of Westminster, Maryland, died on Jan. 3 at the age of 78. He taught at the college for 50 years.
He came to the Hill in 1969 to teach Exercise Science and Physical Education and became a tenured faculty member in 1973. He retired with emeritus status in 2019.
In addition to his teaching, he was head coach of track and field for 19 years, doubling as coach for cross country for six seasons, and coached football for nine years. In 1970, he became the first head coach for the newly founded swim team, which he coached for seven years.
He firmly believed in the student-athlete philosophy, where the role of student comes first. More than winning, he wanted to see his students cross the stage at Commencement.
Carpenter was director of athletics from 1984 to 1999. In his 15-year tenure as director, he made sure each coach and team had what they needed to thrive competitively. Most notably, he transitioned the college from the Middle Atlantic Conference into the Centennial Conference in 1992.
After stepping down from his role as athletic director, he coordinated the college’s graduate Kinesiology program for four years and continued to teach undergraduate students until his retirement.
He served on the McDaniel College Athletics Hall of Fame Committee for many years and was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017 for his numerous contributions to the college’s athletics programs.
He was predeceased by his wife Alice Carpenter and is survived by his children, David Carpenter ’93, Scott Carpenter, and Elizabeth Carpenter-Song, six grandchildren, and one sister.