Scotty Adams
(9 SEP 1930, 4 DEC 1963)
Scotty Adams Eulogies
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Jazmin Adams Price (Scotty's Granddaughter) and husband Jason (2000)
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Jazmin Adams Price (2000)
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Jazmin Adams Price (2000)
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Jazmin Adams Price (2000)
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?, Scotty, Margaret and Carol Adams
c1961, USMA
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Scotty Adams
c1960, USMA
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Scotty Adams
c1960, USMA
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Scotty Adams, c1960)
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?, Scotty Adams, ?
c1956)
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Scotty Adams, c1956)
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Scotty Adams (1955)
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Scotty Adams (1955)
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A - 2
1st Row: Vincent, Joseph, Stevenson, Fikaris, Prater, Stemle
2nd Row: Freed, Adams, West, Jim Miller, Mason, Jellison
3rd Row: Auger (CO), Spaulding, Reid, Lucas, Rupp, Weissenborn
4th Row: Dax, Senger, Camp, Schauer
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Scotty Adams
Pearly Slice (1955)
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Scotty Adams
North, South Soccer Game
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Scotty Adams, c1954)
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Scotty Adams (1954)
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Scotty Adams (1954)
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Corps Squad Soccer (1954)
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Corps Squad Soccer (1953)
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Scotty Adams and Roy Thorsen (100th Night Show MAR 1953)
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Scotty Adams and Roy Thorsen (100th Night Show MAR 1953)
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Roy Thorsen and Scotty Adams (100th Night Show MAR 1953)
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Scotty Adams and Bill Wyman x55 (1952, Camp Buckner
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Chickalla, Benassi x55, ?, Patton, Adams (1952, Camp Buckner
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Adams, Schick, Matuzak, Martling, Bossert, Chikala (1952, Camp Buckner
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Scotty Adams and Milt Herman (1952, Camp Buckner
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Bill Sietman and Scotty Adams (1952, Camp Buckner
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Scotty Adams supervising KP (Plebe Hike 1951)
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USAF Discharge (JUL 1951)
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Scotty Adams
Prep School Yearbook (1951)
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Adams, Dax, Weeden, Gersitz
Prep School Party (1951)
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Don Jellison and Scotty Adams, c1950)
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Everyone who knew "Scotty" Adams remembers him with love and affection. He was born in New Jersey on September 9, 1930), but,his family moved back to their native Scotland when he was about 6. This was a fortunate circumstance since he received a fine education at the Strathbungo School in Glasgow that prepared him for the rigors of West Point academics. Even more important for his cadet career, he played on championship soccer teams and was selected as an All Star player. W.W.II intervened as he was growing up, and it was 1948 before his family resettled in Kearney, NJ. Shortly before his 18th birthday that year, he enlisted in the regular Air Force. After training at Keesler AFB as an air traffic controller, he stayed on as an instructor, bolstering the unflappable manner for which he was famous. Scotty received a RA competitive appointment to West Point while at Keesler AFB. Then, in 1950) went to the USMA Prep School at Stewart AFB, NY where he met many of his future classmates. There he was a Squad leader, Platoon Leader, and the Soccer Coach. Life at Stewart Field consisted of intense training in academics plus athletics to prepare mind and body for the all day competitive exam given in March 1951). At the end of that long exam day, one of his classmates wandered into the base chapel to offer thanks; the only other person in the building was Scotty, there for the same purpose. At West Point, Scotty really come into his own. His outgoing and witty personality easily made him one of the most popular men in the class. Prior Air Force service gave him more maturity than the average Plebe, and he was not intimidated by the "system." Today, he would be called laid back. A natural scholar, he had benefited from his time at Stewart Field and he made good grades look easy. Scotty wore stars his Cow year, and graduated 16th in a class of 470. Despite many other activities, he still found time to help other cadets struggling with academics. Though he was barely 5'6" tall, weighing 140 pounds, his size was no handicap on the soccer field where he left a lasting mark. As a Plebe, Scotty played A Squad soccer and also found time to help coach the Plebe team. He lettered all four years at West Point with three stars for victories over Navy, was a three time All-American, and team Captain his Firstie year. In one game, Scotty was facing away from the opposing goal when he took a pass towards him. Without looking back, he jumped up and kicked the ball backwards into the goal. He was probably Army's best player ever. Joe Palone, the Soccer Coach for many years, wrote that "Scotty was not only the bast soccer player I ever coached, but a fine and respected man. The years he played for me we had our best seasons; we won 31 games and lost only 4." Scotty made time for many other activities besides soccer, including the Cadet Chapel Choir and Glee Club, and was unforgettable as "Pearly" in the 1955) Hundredth Night Show. He was also gifted in other sports, but swimming wasn't one of them. Scotty could not float, and would just sink slowly to the bottom of the pool! It was a long struggle for him to pass the mandatory swimming requirement, so to compensate he became a swimming team Manager for four years. Scotty was commissioned in the Air Force, and after primary training in Florida and North Carolina, went to Laredo AFB in Texas for basic pilot training. In April 1957), he was asked to be Best Man at classmate Chuck Gersitz's wedding in the Post Chapel at West Point. When he arrived, some members of the wedding party were missing, so he quickly drummed up 6 First Classmen from the class of '57 to form the saber arch after the ceremony! Scotty stayed on as an instructor pilot at Laredo, and married a petite brunette named Carol Burr in February 1958), enabling Chuck to return the favor as Best Man. In August 1958), Scotty was sent to Syracuse University for Graduate study, receiving a Masters Degree in Geography in 1960). Now a Captain, he was assigned to West Point as an Instructor in Economics and International Relations within the Department of Social Sciences. During his tour at West Point, Scotty was a popular and highly regarded officer, and continued his love of soccer as the OIC of the Cadet team. On, December 4th, 1963), Scotty and Norb Glidden, another classmate stationed at West Point, took out a T-33 jet trainer for a proficiency flight from Stewart Field. Over New Hampshire there was trouble with the aircraft. To avoid civilian casualties in the ground, they delayed ejection until it was too late. Both were killed instantly. That same day was daughter Margaret's 4th birthday, and Scotty had invited some of his friends to a small party for her after work. Wrapping paper and other preparations for Margaret's party were evident when the Superintendent and another classmate came to notify Carol of the accident. She was never the same afterwards. His funeral was held at the Cadet Chapel two days later, followed by interment in the Post Cemetery; it was a life full of potential cut short. Scotty was a loving and devoted father who adored his children, and his death was a special tragedy for them. He was survived by his wife Carol, then pregnant with their third child Ian; his son Scott, 2 years; and his daughter Margaret, 4 years. Scotty, your presence continues in The Long Gray Line; it was only yesterday you stepped into the shadows. Grip hands! "...And flights of angles sing thee to thy rest." His classmates and daughter Margaret Assembly Memorial Article October 1996) To: Brandon Adams "bmadams21@yahoo.com" Copies to: pfikaris@comcast.net, westtc@earthlink.net, TomESims@West-Point.org, coljack@austin.rr.com Subject: Re: Scotty Adams From: Carl H McNair "cmcnair2@csc.com" Date sent: Mon, (18 MAY 2009) 06:23:23,0400 Brandon: Thank you for your message, it is always good to hear from a family member of a classmate and to know you have visited our Class Webpage and found information on your grandfather. Be assured all of us in the Class of 1955) remember Scotty well. He was highly respected throughout the class, a great soccer player, earning a letter in that sport all four years, very smart, finishing 16 out of a class of 470 and singing in both the Cadet Glee Club and Chapel Choir all four years. As you know, he was teaching in the Dept of Social Sciences at West point in 1963) when he and another classmate assigned to the Tactical Dept at the time, Norb Glidden, also an Air Force Captain, went on a training proficiency flight (which all aviators were required to maintain their skills when they were not in an operational flying assignment) and died tragically in an aircraft accident in New Hampshire on (4 DEC '63. Your grandfather's obituary was in the Assembly Magazine in (SEP '97 and you could probably go on line with the USMA library and get a copy of that obituary if you have not done so. I was serving on the DMZ in Korea at the time of the accident, half a world away from West Point, so do not know the details of what happened on that fateful flight. Others closer to him in Company A2 will know them better than I. Scotty was in Company A2 and am sure some of his companymates might be able to provide you more detailed information on Scotty's cadet days and Air Force career that you and your siblings might like to know. Two members of A2 who remain very active in class affairs and were likely close to him are: Pete Fikaris, pfikrais@comcast.net and Tom West, westtc@comcast.net. Scotty's webpage on the class homepage is http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1955/R/AdamF.htm. Hope this is of help to you and know that Pete Fikaris and Tom West, stalwart members of Company A2 will be able to share some of their memories of Scotty. All best wishes, CARL Carl H. McNair, Jr. Major General, US Army (RET) President, USMA Class of 1955) (O) 703-645-4460 (Fax) 703-573-5563 e mail: cmcnair2@csc.com *****Original Message***** From: Brandon Adams "bmadams21@yahoo.com" Date: 05/16/2009 11:35 AM To: Carl H McNair/CORP/SC/CSC@CSC Subject: Scotty Adams It took me forever to find something relevant of my grandfather, and I would like to thank you. I am his grandson, Brandon Michael Adams, son of Ian Douglas Adams. I've noticed all the photos and I must say my father certainly got his side of the genetics from my grandfather. The overwhelming sense of joy and heartache from finally finding something of my grandfather's legacy has shaken me. Seeing as he died shortly before my father's birth, my side of the family never got to know anything of the man, but I yearned to know more of my ancestry. I'm proud to see his memory lives on. It just saddens me to think me, my sisters, and my poor father will never get to know him as you, his classmates, did. If you need proof I am indeed his grandson, we have pictures and items which belonged to him in our possession, and Margaret can vouch for us as well. Just ask her of her crazy firefighter brother Ian. If anything I would like to leave a quote for his page, I feel indebted to say something, although he is a man I never knew. Excuse my rambling, I'm just overwhelmed. I've spent eons searching the web and libraries for information on him, yet could find nothing, and here, finally, I (MAY have found what I'm looking for. I want to understand my families past, and the first keystone in that search is Francis "Scotty" Adams. I thank you for reading this letter, and wish you the best. Sincerely, Brandon Michael Adams Dear Brandon, I was touched by your letter to our West Point class President Carl McNair. It's indeed a pity that Scotty was taken from us at such a young age. You'd have been proud of him and I'm sure he'd be proud of you. I first met him when we were both assigned to the US Military Academy Prep School in Newburgh, New York. He was an Air Force Sergeant having successfully competed for an appointment to the Academy. I was an Air Force Private having enlisted so that I would be assigned there. I had a Congressional appointment to the Academy but had been working as a professional tap dancer for the two years since High School and felt that the Prep School training would be a good refresher and help me pass the entrance exams we would be taking the following Spring. Scotty, in addition to being smart and an excellent airman, had a wonderful sense of humor that lifted the spirits of all those around him. We worked together on the entertainment for a dance that was held at the Prep School one Saturday evening and later, when we were cadets, also worked together on our Hundredth Night Shows, with Scotty providing the humor and me providing the dance. When he signed my Prep School yearbook he wrote in part, "Roy, Been a pleasure teaching you to dance" I'm sure you're already aware that he was an exceptional soccer player and was singularly responsible for many of the Army victories. I have several pictures of Scotty from both Prep School and West Point. Some you (MAY have seen already and some you (MAY not have. I'll attach some of them to this e-mail and then send the rest in separate e-mails so that I don't overload the system with too many attachments to one e-mail. If you'd like a photo copy or several copies of any of them just let me know and send me your mailing address. Your grandfather was a very special person. Even though we didn't have the same parents he's my brother. Best regards, Roy Thorsen (MAY 2009) |
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