Fred Adams papers

Fred L. Adams, the son of Frank and Kate Kiger Adams, was born in Wood County, Sept. 15, 1893. In 1914, he was the first man to enroll at Bowling Green University, where he was later (1946) awarded an honorary degree in political science. Mr. Adams also enrolled at Wooster University, Wooster, Ohio. Adams married Bess Frisbie of Wayne, Ohio on July 23, 1920 and three children were born to this marriage; Janet, Nancy and John.

Mr. Adams was first employed as a seaman along the West Coast by Western Ranches Lumber Industry. He also was self-employed in the general insurance field. He spent two years in the U.S. Army during World War I as part of the 163rd Field Hospital of the American Expeditionary Force. An active citizen in his community, Adams served on local boards and maintained membership in various veterans organizations. He was elected a life member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and belonged to such fraternal orders as the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

In his political career, Adams served as County Clerk from 1929 to 1933, and as an Ohio State Senator for the Republican Party during the years 1936 through 1952. He served on the Emergency Board, the Board of Control and on other Senate Committees, including service as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. He was also a member of the Ohio Program Commission and the Post-War Planning Commission, on which he served as chairman of the Aviation Committee and on the Lake Erie Beach Erosion Committee. In 1952 he ran unsuccessfully for Congress from the 5th District.