James Arthur Crook, 82, distinguished journalism educator and director emeritus, School of Journalism, University of Tennessee, died April 30, 2022, in Knoxville.
A native of Iowa, Dr. Crook was educated at the University of Iowa and earned a doctorate from Iowa State University in 1973. He was hired to teach at UT in 1974 and was named director of the School of Journalism in 1978. He retired in 2001.
Dr. Crook was known nationally and internationally in the field of journalism and mass communication. He served as president of the Society of Professional Journalists in East Tennessee and was co-founder/director of the annual Front Page Follies. There he blended his love for music with raising scholarship funds for journalism students.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 7, at Church Street United Methodist Church, 900 Henley Street, Knoxville. Additional obituary information is here.