John Gandy Adams

John Gandy Adams, a long time business and community leader in Austin, a beloved father and a darling man, died on Wednesday, April 7, 2004, following a spirited adventure with cancer. John Adams was committed to the family business, Adams Extract Co., founded by his grandfather, John A. Adams, continued by his father, Fred W. Adams, and aided by his son, John Adams Jr., Executive Vice-President. The business was known for its “Adams Best Vanilla” and its ebullient last owner, “Mr. Adams”. It remained in the family until its sale in 2002. John was born in Austin in 1923 to Fredrick Ward and Mattie Gandy Adams. Both preceded him in death, as did his sister, Evelyn Mayes. He is survived by former wife Betty Turner Adams of Franklin, Tennessee, his daughter Linda Adams of Austin and her children, Corbin and Elizabeth Parciany; his daughter and her husband Connie Adams Lee and Royce Lee of Fort Worth, and their children, Barrett Royce Lee, Catherine Adams Lee, John Preston Lee; and his son and his wife John Gandy Adams, Jr. and Kathleen O’Rourke Adams, and their children, Ashley Ann Adams and Lauren O’Rourke Adams of Austin. John left behind two brothers, Lawrence Adams of Colorado and Fred Adams, Jr. of Austin, and his dearest love, Rosa Lopez Wicker. Adams also was known for his role, along with his wife Betty, in founding and preserving the Knights of the Symphony, an Austin social institution, organized in 1968, to provide support for the Austin Symphony Orchestra. He always insisted that the group be a “fun-raising organization, not a fund- raising group”, and designated the titular head of the knights as King Brio, who presides over the annual Jewel Ball, a function of the Women’s Symphony League. The organizations’ traditions have been maintained for nearly 40 years because of Adams’ strong will and leadership. To the end, he served as Master of Ceremonies and principal arbiter of Knights proceedings. John’s fellow Knights acknowledged their fondness for him by proclaiming him “Esteemed Grand Knight Exemplar.” He was the organization mainstay until his death. John Adams was a graduate of Austin High School in 1940 and Choate Preparatory School in Wallingford, Connecticut in 1941. After the war he completed his Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry at the University of Texas in 1949 while running the family business. John and Betty and all their children are Life Members in the University of Texas Ex-Students Association. John joined the United States Army Air Corp in 1941, completed flight school and became a B-24 bomber pilot in World War II. He flew 54 missions over the Himalayas while serving in China, Burma, and India. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. While surviving many harrowing experiences, he successfully brought home all ten members of his crew safe and sound as he promised. He was one of the founding members of the Longhorn Basha of the China Burma India Veterans and has gone to join his fellow pilot comrades in the skies. John was active in scores of youth, civic, arts, industry and business organizations in his life time. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 29, which met at the University Presbyterian Church, attaining Eagle Scout and member of the Order of the Arrow. John was President of the Austin Junior Chamber of Commerce, loving the Jaycees throughout the fifties, and served the Austin Chamber of Commerce and the United States of Commerce. He won the 34th Annual Free Enterprise Award, Austin Chapter of Sales in Marketing International in 1984. He served as President of the Texas Spurs in 1971-72; he was chairman of the Society of Flavor Chemists; Regional Chairman in 1978 of the Texas Association of Business; Trustee of the Southwest Research Institute. He served as President of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association in 1979-80, the only President east of the Mississippi ever to be chosen by FEMA. He was a devoted member of Austin Rotary and a Paul Harris Fellow, with 42 years of Perfect Attendance. A four decade member of Austin downtown Rotary, John dearly loved the San Marcos, South Austin, and other Rotaries, where he often visited. John Adams was an enthusiastic participant of the Texas Retail Grocers Association, the Austin Better Business Bureau, YMCA of Austin, the Hump Pilot Association, Flying Tigers, Confederate Air Force, National Wildflower Research Center, Friends of the UT Performing Art Center, Texas State Historical Association, American Red Cross, the American Legion, Air War College Alumni Association , the LBJ Library, The Alpha Phi Club, Metropolitan Club, Capital Area Food Bank, Travis County Grand Jurors Association, Quiet Birdman, Altue Aces, Texas Historical Foundation, Sportsman’s Club of Texas, Onion Creek Country Club, Headliners Club, University of Texas Club, Admirals Club. He was the first Lord Chancellor of the Knights of the Symphony and the second King Brio. The family wishes to thank Dr. Thomas Tucker and his wonderful caring staff, and all of Hospice Austin and especially Sandy and Doris. John Adams’ family will receive visitors on Monday evening, April 12, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home at 3125 North Lamar Blvd. in Austin. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday morning, April 13, beginning at 10:00 am at the same location. Burial will follow at Austin Memorial Park. Members of the Knights of the Symphony will serve as honorary pallbearers. For those desiring to provide a memorial, the family requests that donations be made to the Austin Symphony Orchestra Society, the Joe R and Teresa Long Center for the Performing Arts, or the Capital Area Food Bank in lieu of flowers. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, TX 78705 (512) 452-8811. You may view memorials online at wcfish.com