James Blackburn Adams (December 21, 1926 – April 25, 2020) was an American attorney, politician, and two-time associate director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.[1]
In January 2007, Adams received the Baylor Distinguished Alumni Award.[4]
Career
After graduating from law school, Adams became a prosecuting attorney. He was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1950. Adams took office in 1951 as a Democrat, and resigned his seat later that year to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Adams was succeeded in the Texas House by W. H. Gant.[5]
As an FBI special agent, Adams served in Seattle, San Francisco, and the Administrative Services Division. In 1959, he was appointed assistant special agent in charge of Minneapolis and in 1972 he was promoted to special agent in charge of San 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]
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 the Texas Rangers who had relied on the unreliable confessions of Henry Lee Lucas to 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
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
^"TXDPS - April 26, 2020 DPS Issues Statement on Death of Retired DPS Colonel James B. Adams". www.dps.texas.gov. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
Babcock, Charles, R. (April 11, 1979). "Top FBI Aide Adams Quits Unexpectedly, Accepts Texas Post". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
"Pvt James B Adams studies Japanese". Mexia Weekly Herald. October 5, 1945. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
^ ab"Colonel James Blackburn Adams". Hill Country Community Journal. April 26, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020. Republished in the Kerrvile Daily Times, originally released by the Grimes Funeral Chapels
^"Baylor University Names Distinguished Alumni". Media and Public Relations | Baylor University. January 12, 2007.
^"Texas Legislators: Past & Present - Mobile". lrl.texas.gov.
james, adams, english, composer, composer, arizona, state, professor, professor, james, blackburn, adams, december, 1926, april, 2020, american, attorney, politician, time, associate, director, federal, bureau, investigation, associate, director, federal, bure. For the English composer see James B Adams composer For the Arizona State professor see James B Adams professor James Blackburn Adams December 21 1926 April 25 2020 was an American attorney politician and two time associate director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 1 James B Adams3rd and 4th Associate Director of the Federal Bureau of InvestigationIn office April 6 1978 May 11 1979Succeeded byFloyd I ClarkeIn office June 22 1973 February 5 1978Preceded byMark FeltActing Director of the Federal Bureau of InvestigationIn office February 15 1978 February 23 1978PresidentJimmy CarterPreceded byClarence M KelleySucceeded byWilliam H WebsterMember of the Texas House of RepresentativesIn office January 9 1951 August 6 1951Succeeded byW H GantPersonal detailsBornJames Blackburn Adams 1926 12 21 December 21 1926Corsicana Texas U S DiedApril 25 2020 2020 04 25 aged 93 Kerrville Texas U S Political partyRepublicanEducationBaylor University BA LLB Military serviceBranch service United States ArmyBattles warsWorld War II Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 2 1 Controversies 3 Personal life 4 ReferencesEarly life and education EditJames B Adams was born in Corsicana Texas in 1926 He served in the U S Army during World War II as a Japanese translator 2 before returning to Texas to obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor University and a law degree from Baylor Law School 3 In January 2007 Adams received the Baylor Distinguished Alumni Award 4 Career EditAfter graduating from law school Adams became a prosecuting attorney He was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1950 Adams took office in 1951 as a Democrat and resigned his seat later that year to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation Adams was succeeded in the Texas House by W H Gant 5 As an FBI special agent Adams served in Seattle San Francisco and the Administrative Services Division In 1959 he was appointed assistant special agent in charge of Minneapolis and in 1972 he was promoted to special agent in charge of San 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 Investigation Clarence M Kelley announced his intention to retire On September 30 1977 President Jimmy Carter nominated Judge Frank Minis Johnson of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama to the post However Johnson developed severe health problems and Carter withdrew the nomination in December Carter nominated then judge on the United 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 the Texas Department of Public Safety from 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 the Texas Rangers who had relied on the unreliable confessions of Henry Lee Lucas to 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 EditAdams 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 Retrieved April 27 2020 Babcock Charles R April 11 1979 Top FBI Aide Adams Quits Unexpectedly Accepts Texas Post The Washington Post Retrieved April 28 2020 Pvt James B Adams studies Japanese Mexia Weekly Herald October 5 1945 Retrieved April 28 2020 a b Colonel James Blackburn Adams Hill Country Community Journal April 26 2020 Retrieved April 28 2020 Republished in the Kerrvile Daily Times originally released by the Grimes Funeral Chapels Baylor University Names Distinguished Alumni Media and Public Relations Baylor University January 12 2007 Texas Legislators Past amp Present Mobile lrl texas gov a b Federal Bureau of Investigation About Us History Directors James Blackburn Adams Archived from the original on July 1 2013 a b War in Waco D Magazine Retrieved February 11 2021 Essay When Texas Rangers hid evidence in Baytown murder a killer walked free Houston Chronicle Retrieved February 11 2021 Miss Ione LaRae Winistorfer becomes bride of James Blackburn Adams in church rites Mexia Daily News September 6 1955 Retrieved April 28 2020 Flag Status Half Staff gov texas gov Retrieved April 28 2020 Government officesPreceded byClarence M Kelley Director of the Federal Bureau of InvestigationActing1978 Succeeded byWilliam H Webster Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James B Adams amp oldid 1127235255, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
