This year, the University System of Georgia has named two former Floyd College educators as emeritus professors.

One of the honorees has resided in Cedartown for a number of years and only retired from the college last year after 30 years of service.

Dr. James F. Cook retired in 2000 as professor of history from Floyd.

He and the second emeritus honoree Hubert W. Whitlow Jr., both joined the college in 1970 during the Floyd’s inaugural year.

Retired faculty members who have served at least 10 years can be recommended for the honor of emeritus status by the faculty of the college. The recommendation goes to the Board of Regents of the University System for approval.

During his time at Floyd College, Dr. Cook taught more students than any other faculty member in the college’s first 30 years.

He published two books, “Carl Sanders: Spokesman of the New South” and “The Governors of Georgia 1754-1995” and numerous articles and reviews.

The professor created the first televised course at Floyd, a 30-lecture class on Georgia history in 1975.

In 1979, Cook was promoted to professor of History. He also directed the first Institutional Self-Study for the Southern Association and served on the Steering Committee of the other two institutional Self-Studies.

Since 1990, Dr. Cook has led 10 study tours to Europe with more than 300 participants, students, teachers and members of the local community. He retired from college last year.

A native of Balboa, Panama Canal Zone, Dr. Cook grew up in Washington, D.C.

He holds degrees in History from Young Harris College, Emory University, Georgia State University and the University of Georgia.

Dr. Cook resides in Cedartown with his wife, Ida, and is active in the local community in civic, religious, historical and political organizations.

He is a lifetime member of the Georgia Association of Historians and served as president of the organization in 1984.

Floyd College is a unit of the University System of Georgia with an enrollment of more than 2,100 students on its campuses in Rome, Cartersville, Haralson County and at North Metro Tech in Acworth.