Alexander DeGraaf Adams

He was born on the 10th of April 1932 in Stamford, Connecticut to Mary McAshan and Norman DeGraaf Adams. Two of Adams’ ancestors, Alexander McGowen and Isaac Wright Brashear, were Harris County representatives to the Constitutional Convention of 1845 which set the terms under which Texas entered the Union, and Alexander McGowen (Alexander Adams’ great-great grandfather) was twice mayor of Houston, in 1858 and 1866. Adams grew up in Houston (a 6th generation Houstonian) and attended the Kinkaid School, Lamar High School, Sewanee, and The University of Texas where he graduated in 1954 with a BBA degree. While there he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. After returning from two years of service in the U.S. Army in 1956, he immediately joined the insurance brokerage firm of Adams and Porter founded by his grandfather Henry Adams in 1907. Adams was devoted to the business and loved everything about it: the men in the firm, the marine risks from shrimp boats to offshore drilling rigs, but especially the great clientele of men. He retired after thirty-five years in the business.

Adams became the youngest member of the downtown Rotary Club taking his dad’s classification of Marine Insurance. He was a member of the Houston Country Club, a board member of Harris County Center for Mental Health, a member of The Sons of Republic of Texas, and Sons of the American Revolution, a trustee for nine years of The Star of Hope, a Christian mission that provides a shelter and job training for the homeless. God also gave him the privilege of serving as a trustee from 1975 until his death for KHCB Christian Radio. He was actively involved in the expansion of the news stations to other parts of Texas and Louisiana whereby Christ-centered broadcasting can be heard in many other cities. Adams was active in Bethel Church where he served one time as deacon. He has had a long time interest in many Christian ministries such as Campus Crusade for Christ. He taught in the summer Bible Program for youth at Dad’s Club YMCA for at least ten years. To say he loved spending time at his ranch near Blanco is the understatement of the year.

He was proceeded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years Paula Adams.

Alexander Adams leaves behind his sons, Samuel Alexander Adams and Matthew Muller Adams and daughters-in-law Julie and Kendall. He also leaves behind his grandchildren who will miss their “Pop” very much, Lacy Katherine, Benjamin Alexander, Emma Rene, Andrew Samuel, Walker DeGraaf, Sophie Grace, Megan Hope and Matthew Luke. He was very close to his brothers: Norman D. Adams, Maurice M. Adams and his wife Barbara and first cousins Khleber Attwell, Kirby Attwell, Tex Fountain, Frank Kelly and Allen McAshan, as well as many dear nieces and nephews.

The memorial service is to be conducted at half past eleven o’clock in the morning on Monday, the 30th of July at Bethel Church, 825 Bering Drive in Houston, where Pastor Dwain Camp is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the Fellowship Hall.

The family will have gathered for a private interment at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.