"I like to thank everybody when I work at the register. I try to look at their card and personalize the interaction," James said. "I don't always pronounce the names right though."
James, known by many as Food Court Larry, joined DDS in 1999 as Food Court manager and has served in that capacity since then. In his time at Dartmouth, James has marked the College's busiest food outlet with a personal touch that he said adds to his own experience as well as that of his patrons.
"If I have time to talk to people, I get to find out interesting stories," he said. "And sometimes I can make a connection with people."
James said he has particularly enjoyed meeting foreign students whose countries he had visited, students planning to study in interesting locations abroad and others who share their experiences with him.
Both students and James himself also remarked that the Food Court czar always seems to make a point to look out for sick or otherwise downtrodden patrons.
"[James] used to bring me cinnamon from the kitchen because he'd see me frown when there wasn't any out there," Meredith Druss '08 said.
Despite his dedication to making Food Court welcoming to all students, James conceded to The Dartmouth that he does play favorites sometimes.
"I especially like people with the names Lawrence or James," he said. "I make a big deal out of it."
One of James's biggest responsibilities as Food Court manager is choosing the menu, and he has always been open to students' suggestions. One student suggested that the sandwich menu include a sandwich, now known as the Ballentino, containing grilled chicken, spicy ranch dressing and some vegetables on a Garlic wrap, James said. The manager explained that he tried selling the sandwich for one day, and it was successful enough to become a permanent menu item.
James added that not all suggestions have produced fruitful results.
"One kid wanted to make a sandwich with potato chips in it," he said. "It didn't do too well. He's the only kid who ate it."
Inevitably, not all of James' experiences with students have been positive in his seven years at Food Court, especially toward the later hours of each day if students show up intoxicated, he said.
"Every year we seem to get streakers, male and female," James said. "I won't say what I've seen."
But what few will forget about James is the extent to which he cares about the students who walk through Food Court's doors.
"I tell students when I see them at graduation time, 'Do no harm,'" he said. "Do no harm to yourself, to the environment, to the workplace you go into."
A large book placed just inside Food Court's entrance is currently serving as a goodbye card for students and other Food Court loyalists to sign for James.
One of the inscriptions reads, "Food Court will never be the same. We will miss you my friend."
James will turn 62 on July 8, a little more than a week after he leaves the College for good.