Gordon Carper
N. Gordon Carper was a long-time professor of history and quizbowl coach at Berry College beginning in 1969. [1]
After the College Bowl TV show ended in 1970, Dr. Carper worked with other schools in the region to establish the Southeastern Invitational as an independent quizbowl tournament that kept Berry, along with some nearby colleges, competing in quizbowl-style events. Over time, these events evolved into the traditional mACF style of 20 tossups and 20 bonuses per round and helped preserve an independent quizbowl circuit outside of the later College Bowl revival. [2] Berry also hosted other events during this time.
In addition to coaching Berry to several College Bowl Regionals titles and an 18th-place finish nationally at the 1999 ACF Nationals, Dr. Carper was also a key mentor to many quizbowl players, coaches, and event organizers throughout the Southeast for over three decades, including other Carper Award winners like Carol Guthrie. [3]
According to the Georgia state legislature, his "expert and unwavering guidance" enabled his "perspicacious students" to develop and refine the "mental agility, verbal dexterity, and intellectual acumen that are necessary for continued excellence in college bowl competition." [4]
He is best-known today in quizbowl circles as the namesake of the Carper Award, of which he was the first recipient. Carper passed away in 2011.
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