Adams services

Mr. Adams, distinguished professor emeritus of chemistry at Kansas University, died Thursday, Nov. 28, 2002, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., after a short illness.

He was born Aug. 26, 1924, in Atlantic City, N.J., the son of Leo and Luetta (Leeds) Adams.

A veteran of World War II, Mr. Adams piloted B-17s and B-29s as a first lieutenant with the U.S. Army Air Corps.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Rutgers University in 1950 and a doctorate from Princeton University in 1953.

In 1955, Mr. Adams came to Lawrence as an assistant professor at Kansas University. He became a university distinguished professor in 1965. In 1969, he published “Electrochemistry at Solid Electrodes,” the only text of its kind in the field of solid electrode analytical chemistry.

In 1992, Mr. Adams became professor emeritus at KU.

During his career, Mr. Adams was awarded the J.S. Guggenheim Fellowship in 1964, Fisher Award in Analytical Chemistry from the American Chemical Society in 1982, C.N. Reilley Award for Electroanalytical Chemistry in 1984, I.M. Kolthoff Gold Medal Award from the American Pharmaceutical Society in 1985, Jacob Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award from the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke, American Chemical Society National Award in Electrochemistry in 1989 and Oesper Award in 1996. In 1982, Mr. Adams was among the first scientists to receive a Higuchi Award for excellence in basic science. He was nominated for a Nobel Prize in 1997.

He married Virginia “Gini” Barrett on Jan. 23, 1953, in Louisville, Ky. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include three daughters, Lisa Boley and Kristin Adams, both of Lawrence, and Moira Adams, Yucca Valley, Calif.; and four grandchildren.

A daughter, Kathryn Adams, died earlier.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Capuchin Franciscans, sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.

E-mail condolences may be sent to nfo@warrenmcelwain.comi, subject: Adams.