Curtis Adams, One Of Hamilton County's Most Colorful Politicians, Dies At 86; Funeral Is Sunday

  • Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Curtis Adams, one of Hamilton County's most colorful politicians, has died at 86. He had suffered a fall at a senior center in East Ridge late last week and spent his last days in a Hospice facility. He died just before noon on Tuesday.

He always referred to himself as "the Senior Commissioner," having served the longest tenure of anyone on the Hamilton County Commission.

His funeral will be Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home, Fort Oglethorpe, with Rev. Paul McDaniel and Bill Hullander officiating.  Interment will be in Lakewood Memory Gardens, South.

Honorary pallbearers will be all former Hamilton County Commissioners.

The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. Saturday and 12:30-2:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Heritage Funeral Home on Battlefield Parkway. 

Mr. Adams is survived by his two daughters Jennifer (Gus) Hopper, Lookout Mountain, and Debbie (Lynn) Gibson, East Ridge, 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Congressman Chuck Fleischmann said, “I am deeply saddened by the loss of a fine gentleman, a dear friend, and a great public servant, Curtis Adams. For over two decades, our community was strengthened by his leadership, enthusiasm, and dedication to the residents of Hamilton County. His love for East Tennesseans radiated in everything he did and will forever be his lasting legacy. He will be sorely missed.”

 

County Mayor Jim Coppinger said, "Curtis Adams was a dedicated public servant who loved working for the betterment of his district and the county. I was fortunate to serve with Curtis on the Hamilton County Commission and appreciated his courage and commitment to always do the right thing.

 

"This community has seen great progress because of his leadership that helped pave the way for new school buildings and the great economic development that we enjoy today.

 

"We still laugh in the office about some of his antics including the day Curtis brought a wheelbarrow into the commission room to show his support for a wheel tax. Curtis was a character who will be remembered for his commitment to the people of District 8, his leadership and his enduring friendships from both his newspaper career and his distinguished public service."

 

His family came to Chattanooga when he was a boy when his father, the Rev. Dewey Adams, became pastor of the Hughes Avenue Baptist Church in Alton Park. Later, Rev. Adams took a pastorate in Birmingham. It was there that young Curtis was helping with Sunday School enrollment when he signed up an attractive and spirited young girl named Dorothy"Dot" Morris. It was not long afterward when Curtis picked up Dot to take her to school, and they eloped instead. He was 16 and she was 15. They set up housekeeping back in Chattanooga.

Mr. Adams went to work at the Chattanooga News-Free Press when he was 18 years old. He rose to become director of circulation and then of the advertising department. He helped to come up with a variety of promotions that boosted the circulation and advertising of the afternoon newspaper. The most brilliant idea came after the sudden death of the legendary Elvis Presley. Mr. Adams had the idea of a special Elvis edition. It was so successful that it was the biggest single publication of the newspaper then or since. It spawned a number of follow-up Elvis specials with those who had had any contact with the Memphis icon lining up on 11th Street to tell their stories.

Mr. Adams became a close associate and friend of News-Free Press publisher Roy McDonald. They made a number of trips together on newspaper business, including several to Arkansas to a publisher who eventually bought out the newspaper. Mr. Adams later delighted in telling "Mr. Roy stories" about his days with the iconic publisher and about the many ways Mr. Roy helped his employees and down and out members of the community.

Mr. Adams had a lifelong interest in newspapers and deplored the slide of print newspapers after the advent of Internet news.

After there came an opening on the County Commission for the East Ridge District 8 seat, Mr. Adams sought and gained permission from Mr. McDonald to become a candidate.

He was an outspoken - often in a humorous way - member of the commission. One of his most publicized stunts was when he pushed a wheel barrow along Walnut Street in front of the County Courthouse. It contained petitions from citizens for a referendum on a $25 wheel tax for education. The County Commission went along with the idea 6-3, but it was soundly defeated by the voters. When there was again talk of a wheel tax several years later, Commissioner Adams wanted no part of it.

While he was still serving on the commission, Curtis and Dot went into the tire business with their sons, Curtis Owen Adams and Michael Adams. Adams Tire Center was on East Main Street. Mr. Adams was proud to be associated with Cooper Tires, and the president of Cooper Tires came to the store for a visit. However, the family lost Curtis Owen Adams in 1997 to leukemia and Michael Adams in 2000 to liver cancer - both crippling blows to Curtis and Dot.

On a Saturday morning in February 2005, Commissioner Adams, a lifelong Democrat, announced that he was switching to the Republican Party. He did so at a meeting of the Hamilton County GOP at the Convention Center. He was introduced by new Party Chairman Bobby Wood, who said many Democrats feel their party "has left them behind and is off track." Commissioner Adams got a standing ovation from the large Republican crowd, including Congressman Zach Wamp. Commissioner Adams said Rep. Wamp helped him when he started out in politics "before I knew who Zach Wamp was." The development shifted the Republican majority on the commission from 5-4 to 6-3. 

Commissioner Adams said at the time, "I am so proud to be here today, with my family and in the presence of so many of my friends. And, I am honored today to have the opportunity to make an announcement that I have thought about for a long time and the perfect time is here on the day one of my political heroes takes over the helm as chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party. No one is respected more than Bobby Wood. Six weeks ago I honored Bobby and declared him a 'Christian Statesman.' So today I am making an announcement that I am joining with Bobby and the Republican Party and doing so, not ashamed or afraid to take the risk, but doing so 17 months before the next election and at that time, in August, 2006, I will be asking for those that have elected me in five past elections to return me to the Hamilton County Commission, a job I love.

"I am proud of my record on the Hamilton County Commission. I have voted for every progressive move in this county. I am proud of my record for supporting the schools by voting for $136 million new operating dollars and $193 million in new schools and additions. This past year as chairman of the commission I did not support a tax increase for schools because I am concerned about the direction our schools are going. For several years I have been honored for perfect attendance at all meetings, missing only four meetings in 17 years.

"In 1988, I discussed the possibility of running with my wonderful friend, Roy McDonald, a lifelong Republican and the publisher of a well-known newspaper with a reputation of supporting Republicans. He gave me his blessing and support with his statement, 'Son, since this district has been represented by a Democrat. I suspect you should do the same.' He supported me 100 percent and was proud I was a Hamilton County commissioner. Many times he would call me to his office when he had visitors and proudly tell them I served on the Hamilton County Commission.

"When I was elected to the Commission in 1988 we had Democrats Al Gore and Jim Sasser in the Senate; Marilyn Lloyd was our Congress Lady, and Paul Starnes was my State Representative. We had a Democrat County Executive, Sheriff, County Trustee, County Register, Criminal Court Clerk, Juvenile Court Judge, and four Democratic judges. We also had the majority on the Hamilton County Commission. Today, we have 15 less Democrats. For almost 18 years in office as a Democrat I believed in what they were – not what it is today."

In December 2005, over 300 people showed up on a rainy Saturday morning at Wally's Restaurant for a Curtis Adams re-election breakfast. Several people commented on the diversity seen in the audience, saying it showed the broad support he had received over the years. Congressman Wamp was the main speaker and then-Senatorial candidate Bob Corker was in attendance.

In November, 2007, Mr. Adams felt a sharp pain in his chest and drove himself to Parkridge Hospital. Doctors said he had a slight heart attack. It was treated with medication and diet changes.

The always colorful Curtis Adams in 2008, while still on the County Commission, took the position of city manager of East Ridge. There were conflicts with some of the East Ridge Council members and he made a surprise resignation announcement to the council in July after serving just five months. 

At a special Saturday morning budget session, Mr. Adams said he had become "a lightning rod" after he had proposed a controversial 47-cent property tax increase. He said, "I do not want to be a hindrance to this city."

Mr. Adams, who had recently turned 75, said he still considered Mayor Mike Steele "like a son and I want him to preach my funeral."

Before leaving the room, Mr. Adams said, "Everybody in East Ridge has been great to me. I love all of you."

Apparently, the announcement took the whole council by surprise. Mayor Steele said, "There was nothing to prepare me for this. I hope to have time to talk to you." Councilman Larry Sewell, who had worked with Mr. Adams at the newspaper, said, "It's a sad day for East Ridge that you are leaving. I wish I had known earlier and could have talked you out of it."

Mr. Adams served as commission chairman his sixth and final term. Just before his term was to run out, he announced he was stepping down to take another job. There was an unveiling of his portrait in the rotunda of the County Courthouse and he was widely praised.

In May 2010, Mr. Adams, at age 77, became city manager for the city of Crossville. He announced he had bought a home in Crossville, but he planned to retain his longtime home on John Ross Road in East Ridge as well. Mr. Adams began suffering increasing back problems and he left the Crossville job the next year. He and Dot moved back to East Ridge.

In October 2013, Curtis Adams said he was ending his brief political retirement and would be a candidate to seek to regain his old District 8 County Commission seat.

He said, "I really miss it." He said he had a back operation and was in good shape now. "I'm 80, but I feel like I'm 50," he said.

He stated, "I was elected out here six times - a record. While I was on the commission, I made over 300 speeches, married 222 couples and conducted 18 funerals." He added, "When you are in office, you can help a lot of people out. I love the job."

Mr. Adams said during his tenure there were two schools built in East Ridge. In addition, he said he lined up almost a million dollars in other district projects. He said, "I spent all my discretionary funds in District 8."

However, incumbent Tim Boyd won re-election.

Mr. Adams suffered a crushing blow in June 2014 when his beloved Dot went into the hospital for a routine surgery and became critically ill and then died. They had been married for 60 years.

The "Senior Commissioner" was back in the news afterward when he endorsed Democrat Kenny Smith over incumbent Boyd. He said Commissioner Boyd had been untruthful about him in several voter mailings in the prior election.

Hearing of the Adams move, members of the Republican Pachyderm Club took a vote on whether to boot him from the club. President Henry Hoss said from 90 to 95 percent of the club members voted to expel him. He said the matter was referred to the club's board of directors.
 
Mr. Adams responded, "If I had to lose anything, that would be the number one thing I’d like to lose - membership in the Pachyderm Club."
 
He defended his support of Kenny Smith, saying, "I’m happy with that. I’m out of politics and I feel comfortable with my support of Kenny Smith. He’s a good, clean-cut boy, he’s a Democrat, he’s a union member…he’s not a rabble-rousing union member."
 

Mr. Adams was honored with the naming of the Curtis D. Adams Arts Center at East Ridge High School. Curtis Adams Parkway is at the entrance of the new East Ridge Elementary School that opened in 2010. He was also instrumental in the founding of Pioneer Park next to East Ridge City Hall.

Mr. Adams loved music and at one time was the choir director at Temple Baptist Church on Rossville Boulevard. Often at County Commission meetings, he would rise to lead in spirited Happy Birthday renditions. Mr. Adams enjoyed in recent days attending the red back hymnal singings at the home of Bill and Linda Hullander in Apison.

Mr. Adams and Mr. Hullander, who is now the county trustee, enjoyed a long, close friendship. Mr. Adams began hearing Mr. Hullander cutting up with veteran broadcaster Earl Freudenberg on the radio. He told someone he would like to meet Bill Hullander, and it was arranged. They soon were serving on the County Commission together and both were cutting up together on the Freudenberg show on WDOD. Trustee Hullander remained one of his closest friends and was at his bedside in his final hours. 

Later, Mr. Adams was invited by Mr. Freudenberg to interview prominent and interesting Chattanoogans for a radio show on WDYN. He embraced that idea and conducted weekly interviews of local personalities for several years.

County Clerk Bill Knowles, another close friend of Mr. Adams, recalled they once were at the National Cemetery. Mr. Adams was called over to see Desmond Doss, the famed Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, about whom a movie was made. Mr. Doss said he had been following the career of Mr. Adams and had made a scrap book of various statements he had made, which he presented to him.

Mr. Adams was also a friend and admirer of legendary attorney Bobby Lee Cook, of Summerville, Ga. They visited together several times, including in the office of Mr. McDonald at the newspaper.

 

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