Ed Carothers, retired Tech forestry prof, dies
Dr. J. Edwin Carothers, a retired professor of forestry at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, and long-time member of the Louisiana Forestry Association, died on Monday, December 20, 2010. He was 94.

He was a long-time member, elder, Sunday school teacher, and choir member at the University Presbyterian Church, which later merged with the First Presbyterian Church in Ruston to become Presbyterian Church of Ruston where memorial services were held Sunday, December 26.

Dr. Carothers was born March 26, 1916 in Doddridge County, West Virginia. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in forestry from University of Michigan, and Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from Iowa State University, and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. He retired from Louisiana Tech University in 1986 after teaching there for more than 20 years.

He was married to Susan Nickell of Hazel Creek, Kentucky, in June, 1944. They had two children, James L. and Barbara, both of whom graduated from Louisiana Tech University.

Dr. Carothers was a member of Society of American Foresters since 1938, and was a long-time member of the board of directors of Louisiana Forestry Association.

He served for five years as forest manager for the Alpine Tennessee Forest Reserve, a project of the Board of Missions of the Presbyterian Church USA.

Dr. Carothers was leader of the Mexico Mission Project of the First Presbyterian Church, and a member of Habitat for Humanity. He attended the World Forest Conference in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1983 and made a professional trip to China in 1986.

While manager of the Alpine Project, he was granted leave to help deliver 360 draft mares from New Orleans to Yugoslavia, one of the first voyages for what is now the Heifer Project.

He was a long-time dedicated member of the Lions Club of Ruston, Louisiana.

Memorials may be made to the Presbyterian Church of Ruston.

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