Lt. Col. Paul Adams

1920 - 2013

Lt. Col. Paul Adams

Greenville

Lt. Col. Paul Adams, (Retired) was born on August 10, 1920 in Greenville, S.C. to the late Reverend Daniel and Dicey Madison Adams. He was married to Alda Virginia Thompson Adams for 67 years and to this union three children were born: Gloria, Doris and Michael. Paul passed away on June 30, 2013. He is preceded in death by his loving parents and 11 siblings.

At an early age Paul accepted Christ at Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church in Greenville, S.C. He graduated from Sterling High School, Class of 1938, Greenville, SC, and he graduated from South Carolina State College, Class of 1941 in Orangeburg, S.C. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps as one of the Tuskegee Airmen. He flew with the 332nd Fighter Group, an African-American unit, also known as the "Red Tail" group for their distinctive aircraft paint scheme. The group established the unprecedented record of flying more than 1,500 missions in Europe and North Africa. Col. Adams' career saw nine major campaigns and he received the Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf clusters. He retired from active military duty in 1963 and began teaching at Lincoln High School, Lincoln, Nebraska in 1964.

After retiring from Lincoln Public Schools in 1982, he continued to be active in the community. He was active in Quinn Chapel AME Church, past president of the Lincoln Chapter of the NAACP, member of Capital City Kiwanis, the Retired Officers Association, MAD DADS and the Lt. Col Paul Adams chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., American Legion Post #3, Lebanon Lodge #3, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and a Board Member of the Boy Scouts of America.

Lt. Col. Paul Adams is the recipient of many awards and commendations including the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Tuskegee Airmen in April 2007. Doane College, Crete, Nebraska recognized him with the President's Honor of Distinction Award in 2007. The Paul Adams Elementary School was named in his honor in 2008.

Paul Adams is survived by his wife, Alda; and three children: Gloria (Sandy) Middlebrooks, Boston; Doris (David) Gearring, Sturgis, MC; Dr. Michael (Dr. Sondra Braggs) Adams, Oklahoma City, OK. Grandchildren: Khari (Velecia) Middlebrooks, Palo Alta, CA; David Gearring, Jr, Atlanta, GA; Dr. Michael Adams II, Las Vegas, NV; William Gearring, Grand Rapids, MC. Great grandchild, Madilyn Middlebrooks, Palo Alto, CA; and a host of nieces and nephews.

A special memorial and interment will be held in Greenville, S.C. at Watkins Garrett & Woods Funeral home, 1011 Augusta Road, Friday, July 26, 2013 at 11:00 am with the interment to follow at Greenville Memorial Gardens Cemetery.