THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 21, 1996 TAG: 9603210322
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Long : 105 lines
Clifford L. Adams, of the 1300 block of Monterey Ave., died March 19, 1996, at home. He was born in Monroe City, Ind., to George W. Adams Jr. and Estella Baldwin Adams. He was the beloved husband of Lillian R. Adams. He is survived by a sister, Arlena Lindsay of Martinsville, Ind. In addition, he is survived by two daughters, Terry L. Adams of Winston-Salem, N.C. and Gerri A. Trent of Alexandria; five grandchildren, Dale L. Sparrow, R. Shawn Sparrow, Shannon Sparrow, Rebecca A. Trent and Adam G. Trent.
Professor Adams with his family came to Norfolk in 1958 to establish the physics department at Old Dominion University (at that time the Norfolk Campus of the College of William and Mary and VPI.) Professor Adams received his undergraduate degree at what is now Indiana State University at Terre Haute, Ind. His graduate work was taken at the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy (now the University of Missouri, Rolla), Indiana University and the University of Maryland.
Prior to coming to Norfolk, Professor Adams held professional and/or administrative positions at a number of universities including two years at Northeastern Louisiana State University, five years at the U.S. Naval Academy, and two years at Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy.
Professor Adams was an active member of the faculty and administration at O.D.U. from 1958 until his retirement in 1979. He was a co-organizer and first executive director of the O.D.U. Research Foundation. Serving in that capacity and as the first associate provost for Research and Sponsored Programs for eight years before resigning to return to the physics department. He led the physics department from development of a baccalaureate program through the institution of a Ph.D. program in nuclear physics. Professor Adams was a strong advocate for O.D.U. and was a supporter of athletics at the university especially Monarch basketball.
While on the faculty at O.D.U., Professor Adams served on numerous national and state boards and committees including: Research and Development Advisory Committee for the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (chairman 1972-74); member of the State Advisory Committee for Title VI of the HUD Act of 1964; member of the State Advisory Committee for Title I of the Higher Education Act of 1968; member of the Coordinating Committee for state-wide Crime Study; advisor to the director of the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital; invited participant (annually) in the National Conference on the Advancement of Research; Reviewer of proposals for National Science Foundation; past president (1966-1969) of the Virginia Chapter of the American Association of Physics Teachers and board member of the Chesapeake section.
For many years, Professor Adams gave a series of lectures annually to radiology interns at Norfolk General Hospital. He also was a participant and advisor of the Tidewater Science Congress which annually organizes and conducts the Tidewater Science Fair and served as chairman of Judges and Awards Presenter in 1969. He was an academic examiner for the University of London of British Students assigned to NATO Headquarters in Norfolk. Professor Adams developed and presented physics demonstrations on the Warren Hull program on Channel 3. He served as visiting scientist for the High School Visiting Scientist Program sponsored by the Virginia Academy of Sciences and the National Science Foundation (1964-67.) During this period he delivered demonstrations lectures to virtually every high school in Southeastern Virginia. He organized the student section of the American Institute of Physics at O.D.U. He was also organizer and chairman of the committee that established a Sigma Xi Club at O.D.U. and Norfolk State University (this has now become the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Sigma Xi National Research Honor Society.) Professor Adams organized the O.D.U. chapter of the National Society of Physics Students which in 1971 was awarded a Sigma Pi Sigma Chapter (National Physics Honor Society.) He was a co-founder and past president of the O.D.U. Chapter of the National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Professor Adams was a member and past president of the O.D.U. Town and Gown Organization and the O.D.U. Emeriti Faculty Association. He was a member of the Norfolk Round Table. He was immediate past president of the Kiwanis Club of Pioneers and a member of First Presbyterian Church for many years.
Professor Adams was very active in political, city and community affairs. His involvement includes: co-founder and first president of the Norfolk Federation of Civic Leagues and long-time member of its advisory board; chairman of the Hampton Roads Council of Civic Federations; co-founder and first president of the Norfolk Chapter of the American Field Service; developer of the format and moderator of several public service programs televised on Channel 10; a member of the Norfolk City Planning Commission, and as such was instrumental in the establishment of the Norfolk City Fine Arts Committee; member of the Norfolk City School Board; member of the Norfolk City Fine Arts Committee; City Council appointed member of the Board of Directors of the Norfolk Development Corporation (elected vice president 1974-1976); co-founder, director and member of the executive committee of Advance Norfolk (an organization established to promote the city of Norfolk); director and member of the executive committee of the Urban Coalition of Norfolk; member of the Citizens' Advisory Committee of the Norfolk Area Medical Center Authority; member of the Architectural Committee of the Norfolk Medical Center Authority; member of several committees of the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce; long-time member of the Advisory Board of the Norfolk Zoo. He also was an active community volunteer in activities including: Mobile Meals, Salvation Army, and delivery of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter meals. In October 1993, O.D.U. recognized Professor Adams' community involvement with the Community Service Award.
A memorial service will be conducted at 4 p.m. today at First Presbyterian Church by Dr. J. Shepherd Russell Jr. Professor Adams' body was donated to the enlightenment of medical science. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Adams Scholarship Endowment at O.D.U. or to the Norfolk Zoo. ILLUSTRATION: Personal Photo
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY
by CNB