Jim White

Born in 1882, James Larkin "Jim" White was an American rancher, explorer, and writer closely tied to the early history of Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. As a young man, he became fascinated by the huge cave system after seeing clouds of bats pouring from the entrance, and he went on to explore and promote the caverns at a time when few people outside the region knew about them.

White later wrote about his experiences underground, helping preserve the story of the caverns' discovery and early exploration for general readers. His work is remembered not just for adventure, but for the sense of curiosity and determination that helped bring one of America's most famous cave systems to national attention.

He died in 1946, but his name remains strongly connected with Carlsbad Caverns and its place in American natural history.