Carl J. Couch, 1925-1994
American sociologist, founder of the New Iowa School of symbolic interactionism
It has been said that great thinkers have one or two basic insights that escape others. Carl's was simple. We always have to study people doing things together—interacting symbolically. We don't study people. We study interaction.
I don't think Carl would want to be here. I think he'd rather be someplace else. But since we're all here, he'd say, "Now God Dammit don't get maudlin. Lets get on with what we're supposed to do. You know people need to do these things."
Dee Dee asked me to speak for 10-15 minutes, or only five, "whatever you want to say about Carl, whatever you remember."
Carl lived long enough to receive the honors he deserved: the George Herbert Mead Award from the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction; the Presidency of the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction; the Presidency of the Midwest Sociological Society.
He leaves a rich legacy: a loving family, a family any person would be proud to be a member of; a lifetime of love, compassion, adventures; a Society of Symbolic Interactionism that he founded, that his family will help honor and keep alive in his memory.
He leaves generations of outstanding students who have become leaders in the field he established.
He leaves a vision, a dream--a science for humanity-for human beings.
He leaves a set of principles: tough love, honesty, truth, courage, integrity.
Your harshest critic, he was always your friend.
Principles before personalities
No gossip. No petty talk. No criticism of a friend or student, or family member or colleague. You were maybe a "dumb shit" but he loved you anyway.
He leaves a way of living life:
- Full out, always, "a fire in your belly is what he called it." Take chances, take risks.
- share your love with others; -- No shame, or regrets about the past.
- Move forward.
- County music: Anne Murray, Gordon Lightfoot, Waylon and Willie.
He was a man of contradictions:
- He could be a harsh critic, but hated journal editors who asked him to revise.
- He could be loud and profane and yet gentle, tender, and caring to a friend in need.
- He had a big ego and he had no ego. He was selfless, always giving and sharing.
He was the model colleague, critic and comrade, all in one. We'd fight and yell at each other, make-up, and have dinner together.
He and Dee Dee brought Kathy and I back to nature, to the outdoors, to fishing, taught us to love the mountains, rivers and valleys of Montana, to get outside ourselves and go back to a more basic self. He loved competition and liked to win.
He saw himself as an outsider to the establishment, yet created his own establishment--his own way of dealing with the world and converting it to his vision.
He cared about people's projects, took them seriously. He engaged people's ideas, helped them make them better.
It has been said that great thinkers have one or two basic insights that escape others. Carl's was simple. We always have to study people doing things together--interacting symbolically. We don't study people. We study interaction.
And so here today we honor, together, through our interactions, Carl and his legacy. We will do this together and it is to Carl's credit, and to the efforts of Dee Dee, Becky, Sue, Steve, Mike, Topsy and all of Carl's family, that we are doing it so effortlessly, with so much love.
And so I know that Carl, to invoke Dylan Thomas's poem, didn't go gently into the good night. He never went gently anywhere. He's out there, Still ahead of us, smiling, calling us forward. Let's get on with it.
Thank you Carl.
Norman K. Denzin
