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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly May '91
George Talmage Adams, Jr. No. 15327 Class of 1946
Died 7 November 1989 in Ormond Beach, Florida, aged 66 years
Interment: Oak Grove Cemetery, Americus, Georgia.
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George Talmage Adams, Jr. was born in Atlanta,
Georgia, 31 March 1923. His father was an attorney with the Coca-Cola
Company in Atlanta. George spent the first 12 years of his life
in Atlanta until his father became secretary and one of the vice-presidents
of Coca-Cola, and they moved to corporate headquarters in Wilmington,
Delaware. An only child, George was very close to his cousins
who lived in Atlanta, and he maintained this close relationship
for the rest of his life. George graduated from high school at
the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Although Hill School
is known as a Princeton-oriented school, George opted to go to
Yale. It was while he was at Yale that George made the decision
that he wanted to attend West Point. He was able to obtain a
senatorial appointment; and after completing two years at Yale,
entered West Point on 1 July 1943 with the Class of 1946.
Although plebe year was quite a jolt to George after Yale, he
handled it with aplomb. His relaxed military style was not too
highly regarded by the upperclassmen; but the tougher things
got for George, the more determined he became. One of his roommates,
H. Lobdell remembers that once George had some leadership responsibilities,
his ability to get the most out of those under him was quite
extraordinary. George had a keen intellect and had little trouble
academically. One of his other roommates, Max Ulrich, recalls
that George was able to graduate 41st in the class with relatively
little studying. Well-coordinated, George played intramurals
with gusto, especially lacrosse, which he had played at Hill
School and Yale. He was the quarterback on the Engineers football
team at the annual Engineers-Goats classic; which, of course,
the Engineers lost. He was an excellent golfer, a sport he enjoyed
for the rest of his life. George was low-key and immensely funny.
George opted to take Air Cadet training when the opportunity
presented itself in the spring of 1945; he had no trouble with
the flying. Graduation saw George receive both his wings and
his second lieutenant's bars.
After graduation leave, George was assigned to
Enid Field, Oklahoma for training in multi-engine aircraft. From
there, he went into B-29's and became a part of the Strategic
Air Command (SAC). In the late 40's he was stationed at MacDill
AFB, Tampa, Florida. A classmate, Bill Moore, was at MacDill
with George and recalls their time together. George was still
a bachelor-he never married-and his headquarters was Bill Moore's
home. The Moore's enjoyed having George with them, and they all
were caught up in the same circle of Air Force friends. It was
an exciting time for the young '46'ers, flying B-29's and performing
an important mission. A bonus was having classmates passing through
all the time. Most would go to Bill's house, where George would
be tending bar and welcoming their old friends with his wit and
charming personality.
SAC at that time was about to be equipped with its first jet-powered
bomber, the B-47, and George made plans to become part of that
program. First he had to complete 12 months of navigator radar
training, which he breezed through with his usual academic proficiency.
He then was assigned to March AFB, California, where he met the
B-47 for the first time. He had to complete four weeks of Nuclear
School in Albuquerque, New Mexico and eight weeks of B-47 transition
in Wichita, Kansas before he could finally start flying in earnest.
George loved it-pioneering in air refueling and getting lots
of flying time while he became combat ready to deliver nuclear
weapons on any targets worldwide. At that time in the 50's, SAC
maintained B-47's on ground alert in England, Spain and North
Africa. George deployed with his wing for the months in England.
Not only was George's unit one of the first to be qualified in
the B-47, but his unit was recognized to be among the best in
the Air Force. He was considered among the best crew commanders
in his unit and was highly respected by his fellow officers.
From 1954 until he left the Air Force in 1956, George specialized
in developing ground training for air crews using sophisticated
flight simulator equipment. His decision to leave the Air Force
was a difficult one for George. He loved flying and the camaraderie,
but it had been ten years since graduation and he had spent all
that time on an aircraft crew. George felt the need to start
something else as a civilian.
His first two years as a civilian saw George employed by the
Coca-Cola Company. He worked at the New York headquarters, at
the Boston Coca-Cola Company and Baltimore Coca-Cola Bottling
Company. In addition to gaining experience in retail sales and
marketing, George had management assignments in procurement,
maintenance and management of truck fleets and materials handling
equipment. This latter experience enabled him in 1958 to acquire
ownership of a franchised distributorship of Clark Equipment
Company for materials handling equipment in Baltimore and surrounding
area. By 1964, George's business was at an annual sales volume
of over $1 million and had 30 employees. He sold the Clark Equipment
distributorship and returned to Atlanta in 1965. His return to
Atlanta saw George get involved in several business ventures,
including a small land development company specializing in mobile
home parks. In 1973, he became a partner in Adams, Church and
Gregory, Inc. of Atlanta, a financial and investment planning
firm. It seems George had found his niche as he became an authority
on estate planning. His mother was still living in Atlanta at
that time and George was very devoted to her. When she died in
1978, George retired from business and moved to Ormond Beach,
Florida. George and a boyhood friend from Atlanta, Sam Mangum,
together bought a 53' wooden hull Chris Craft. They did their
own work on the boat and took their vacations together on it.
Sam recalls that over a period of five years they explored most
of the Caribbean
Having grown up as an only child with many first cousins in Atlanta,
George always stayed in close touch with them. Each of his cousins,
in remembering George, remarked on his self-assurance, discipline,
orderliness, dependability and charm. He enjoyed life and was
delightful to be around. He radiated the feeling everything was
under control and he could manage any situation. George looked
forward to many years of a fulfilling life. To this end, he took
good care of himself, exercised, watched his diet, had all the
required check-ups. On 13 September 1989, George went to his
doctor in Ormond Beach for one of these check-ups. Tests showed
he had acute leukemia. George chose rigorous treatment in an
attempt to overcome his disease. Despite transfusions, chemotherapy
and every treatment his doctor could devise, George died in his
sleep 7 November 1989. He was survived by his five cousins: Florence
(Sister) Sheffield, William Roberts, Florence Lott, Katherine
Moore, and Walter Dixon.
In preparing the memorial article for George Talmage
Adams, Jr., each respondent was asked the question, "What
kind of person was George Adams?" The first response in
each case was, "He was a true gentleman and a fine person.
From that starting point, there were the following recollections
of a wonderful person from cousins, classmates and friends:
"He was easy to get along with, had a warm personality and
a ready laugh, and was generous and sensitive."
"George had a strong sense of integrity and I never knew
him to try to take advantage of a person or situation. He was
honest, straightforward and ethical."
"In my last words of praise of George and the man he was,
there has to be praise for the training he had; and I sincerely
believe that much of that should be credited to his and your
alma mater-West Point. He was one of the many good men who passed
through her portals."
"George will be remembered by his classmates and many friends
for his warm friendship, keen mind and convivial personality.
As the Air Force bugler was playing Taps at his funeral, the
young bugler badly missed the last few notes. One of George's
oldest friends said in a stage whisper, 'Wouldn't you know George
would have the boy miss the last few notes so that no one would
tear up.'
"George was a wonderful man, a devoted friend, and will
be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Well Done, George, Be Thou at Peace!
'46 Memorial Article Project and his cousin "Sister"
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