Mr. Adams began his career as an assistant to a Michigan congressman before joining Consumers Power Company, Kalamazoo, as manager of employee relations and public relations.
In 1942, he was named director of advertising and public relations for Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit. When American Motors Corporation was organized in 1953, he was named its director of marketing.
He was appointed to WMU's first board of trustees in 1964 and served as its chairman three times in his 24 years of service.