
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, August 25, 1995                   TAG: 9508250103
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER DIES AT 54

Winston B. Adams, longtime Roanoke County volunteer firefighter and sometime Santa Claus, died Wednesday night of a heart attack. He was 54.

Adams joined the Mount Pleasant Fire Station 30 years ago. Thirteen years later, he became a rescue squad volunteer. For the last seven years, he served as secretary and treasurer for the squad.

"He'll be greatly missed," Mount Pleasant Fire Chief Colin Gee said.

Adams may be best remembered around Mount Pleasant for a role he played only once a year: Santa Claus.

Gee said Adams belted himself into the big red-and-white suit every year to ride on the back of the station's antique fire engine, tossing candy to kids as they drove through the Mount Pleasant area.

When station members visited the elderly and less fortunate at Christmas, Adams went along, taking toys to the kids and spreading cheer where he could.

Adams also worked for 36 years in the platemaking department of The Roanoke Times.

According to Gee, Adams was planning to retire from the fire department next year.

by CNB