Clark Golden Adams Sr.

Adams

Clark Golden Adams Sr. (Age 97)

Clark Golden Adams Sr. began a "life fully lived and enjoyed" with a rambunctious and enterprising boyhood and college football glory in Utah. He flew B-17s, worked at Yellowstone National Park, became an aerospace executive in California and a federal government contracting watchdog in Washington, DC. Along the way he was a devoted husband, doting father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and master storyteller. He died May 7, 2023, at his home in Washington, flashing a winning smile to the end.



Clark was born June 21, 1925, in Layton, Utah. After service in the Army Air Corps during World War II, he was an All-Conference two-way tackle for the University of Utah football team, and received bachelor's and law degrees from "the U." He climbed the ranks at North American Aviation to become vice president of contracts and pricing. In 1965 he became the first national president of the National Contract Management Association.



In 1971, Clark moved to Washington to join the new Cost Accounting Standards Board. Congress disbanded the CASB in 1981 and Clark transferred to the General Accounting Office (now Government Accountability Office). He retired in 1992.



Clark taught courses on government contracting for Government Procurement Associates, later called American Graduate University, from the mid-1960s until 2021. With AGU Press, in 2015 he published the eighth edition of "Federal Acquisition and Contract Management."



He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Barbara Jean (BJ) Newcomb Adams of Washington and daughter Victoria Adams Fogg (Alan) of Fairfax Station, VA. Son Clark Golden Adams Jr. (Jill) died in 2014. Survivors also include seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.



The family thanks caregivers, especially Claudine Bornelus, Sophia Wilson and Reward Eleogu, who supported Clark and BJ for two years. The family also thanks John Yakaitis, a GAO colleague who stopped by to shave Clark for the last 20 months.



A gathering for family and friends will be held this summer. Donations may be sent to Engedi Refuge (www.engedirefuge.com), which serves women who have experienced sexual exploitation.