James B. Adams
James B. Adams | |
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3rd and 4thAssociate Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation | |
In office April 6, 1978 – May 11, 1979 | |
Succeeded by | Floyd I. Clarke |
In office June 22, 1973 – February 5, 1978 | |
Preceded by | Mark Felt |
ActingDirector of the Federal Bureau of Investigation | |
In office February 15, 1978 – February 23, 1978 | |
President | Jimmy Carter |
Preceded by | Clarence M. Kelley |
Succeeded by | William H. Webster |
Member of theTexas House of Representatives | |
In office January 9, 1951 – August 6, 1951 | |
Succeeded by | W. H. Gant |
Personal details | |
Born | James Blackburn Adams December 21, 1926 Corsicana, Texas,U.S. |
Died | April 25, 2020 Kerrville, Texas,U.S. | (aged 93)
Political party | Democratic |
Education | Baylor University(BA,LLB) |
Military service | |
Branch/service | ![]() |
Battles/wars | World War II |
James Blackburn Adams(December 21, 1926 – April 25, 2020) was an American attorney, politician, and two-time associate director of theFederal Bureau of Investigation.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]James B. Adams was born inCorsicana, Texasin 1926. He served in theU.S. ArmyduringWorld War IIas a Japanese translator,[2]before returning to Texas to obtain aBachelor of Artsdegree fromBaylor Universityand a law degree fromBaylor Law School.[3]
In January 2007, Adams received the Baylor Distinguished Alumni Award.[4]
Career
[edit]After graduating from law school, Adams became a prosecuting attorney. He was elected to theTexas House of Representativesin 1950. Adams took office in 1951 as aDemocrat,and resigned his seat later that year to join theFederal Bureau of Investigation.Adams was succeeded in the Texas House byW. H. Gant.[5]
As an FBI special agent, Adams served inSeattle,San Francisco,and the Administrative Services Division. In 1959, he was appointed assistant special agent in charge ofMinneapolisand in 1972 he was promoted to special agent in charge ofSan Antonio, Texas.In 1973, he was appointed assistant director of the Office of Planning and Evaluation and became assistant to the director/deputy associate director for investigations the following year.[6]
In early 1977,Director of the Federal Bureau of InvestigationClarence M. Kelleyannounced his intention to retire. On September 30, 1977, PresidentJimmy Carternominated JudgeFrank Minis Johnsonof theUnited States District Court for the Middle District of Alabamato the post. However Johnson developed severe health problems and Carter withdrew the nomination in December. Carter nominated then-judge on theUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit,William H. Webster,in January 1978. Adams served as Acting Director of the FBI from Kelley's retirement on February 15 to 23, 1978, when Webster was sworn in. Adams retired from the FBI on May 11, 1979. He then returned to Texas, where he served as Director of theTexas Department of Public Safetyfrom 1980 to 1987.[6]
Controversies
[edit]While Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Adams authorized an investigation into the District Attorney of McLennan County,Vic Feazell.[7]Feazell had initiated an investigation into theTexas Rangerswho had relied on the unreliable confessions ofHenry Lee Lucasto close over 300 homicide investigations across the United States despite some confessions being clearly false.[8]Adams authorized the investigation into Feazell as retribution for questioning the Texas Rangers, who were under Adams' authority.[7]Following a raid of Feazell's home and office, he was charged with bribery, but eventually acquitted at trial.
Personal life
[edit]Adams was married to Ione LaRae Winistorfer from September 1955 to his death on April 25, 2020, aged 93.[9][3]Flags on Texas state and federal government buildings were lowered to half-staff to commemorate Adams.[10]
References
[edit]- ^"TXDPS - April 26, 2020 DPS Issues Statement on Death of Retired DPS Colonel James B. Adams".www.dps.texas.gov.Archived fromthe originalon April 27, 2020.RetrievedApril 27,2020.
- ^
- Babcock, Charles, R. (April 11, 1979)."Top FBI Aide Adams Quits Unexpectedly, Accepts Texas Post".The Washington Post.RetrievedApril 28,2020.
{{cite news}}
:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - "Pvt James B Adams studies Japanese".Mexia Weekly Herald.October 5, 1945.RetrievedApril 28,2020.
- Babcock, Charles, R. (April 11, 1979)."Top FBI Aide Adams Quits Unexpectedly, Accepts Texas Post".The Washington Post.RetrievedApril 28,2020.
- ^ab"Colonel James Blackburn Adams".Hill Country Community Journal.April 26, 2020.RetrievedApril 28,2020.Republished in theKerrvile Daily Times,originally released by theGrimes Funeral ChapelsArchivedAugust 19, 2020, at theWayback Machine
- ^"Baylor University Names Distinguished Alumni".Media and Public Relations | Baylor University.January 12, 2007.
- ^"Texas Legislators: Past & Present - Mobile".lrl.texas.gov.
- ^ab"Federal Bureau of Investigation-About Us-History-Directors-James Blackburn Adams".Archived fromthe originalon July 1, 2013.
- ^ab"War in Waco".D Magazine.October 1985.RetrievedFebruary 11,2021.
- ^"Essay: When Texas Rangers hid evidence in Baytown murder, a killer walked free".Houston Chronicle.June 12, 2020.RetrievedFebruary 11,2021.
- ^"Miss Ione LaRae Winistorfer becomes bride of James Blackburn Adams in church rites".Mexia Daily News.September 6, 1955.RetrievedApril 28,2020.
- ^"Flag Status - Half-Staff".gov.texas.gov.RetrievedApril 28,2020.
- 1926 births
- Baylor Law School alumni
- Deputy Directors of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Directors of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
- 2020 deaths
- Democratic Party members of the Texas House of Representatives
- Military personnel from Texas
- People from Corsicana, Texas
- Politicians from San Antonio
- Texas lawyers
- 20th-century American legislators
- 20th-century American lawyers
- Japanese–English translators
- American translators
- United States Army personnel of World War II
- 20th-century Texas politicians