Philip Turner
James Benson was a special person in my life, and I am grateful that I knew him. We began together on the faculty at the Graduate School of Library Service at the University of Alabama in the Fall of 1977. I had been working on my classes for a month prior and was amazed that James already had made his acquaintance of so many people in the library within a few days of arriving. That was his way.
He was very helpful to me as I began my research, serving as a sounding board and providing feedback and, with his encyclopedic knowledge, additional sources.
James had a serious operation while at UA and he stayed with Lis and me afterwards for a week. At the end of that time, he announced that, after observing us, he planned to get married! We are still not sure what we displayed but were delighted when he successfully wooed Susan and began their journey together.
James introduced me to the concept of “Holding Court” at conferences which involved him sitting in the lobby of the conference hotel headquarters and greeting his many friends as they came by. I believe that his spirit is somewhere waiting to greet us
