Karl A. Adams

To read the roster of the many manifold and varied activities to which Karl A. Adams gave energy and devotion is to read the record of a first-class American.

Included in that list is nearly every constructive facet of the life of Auburn, whether business, social, fraternal, or philanthropic. And Karl Adams' participation was always characterized by a spirit of friendliness, good humor, and wit.

He was, in fact, the kind of good citizen that every community, this one included, sorely needs if it is to be civilized and progressive.

From the June 4, 1971 edition of "The Citizen-Advertiser"

Karl A. Adams, 70, one of the founders of the Industrial Development Foundation of Auburn and Cayuga County, died Thursday in Auburn Memorial Hospital after an illness of several months.

During 1960 and 1961, Mr. Adams served as president of the IDF, which was founded in 1949 to bring new industry to Auburn after the International Harvester plant closing.

He also served as acting president of the foundation during its early years, and was chairman of the IDF fund campaign in 1950.

A graduate of Auburn Public Schools and Syracuse University, Mr. Adams had been a distinguished civic leader in Auburn since World War 1.

In 1918, he was named secretary of the Chamber of Commerce of Auburn and Cayuga County and served in that position for several years. During 1952 he was president of the chamber.

He was director of Community Chest Campaigns and the "War Against Depression" during the early 1930's. In 1951, he again headed the Community Chest Campaign.

In addition, he was chairman of the Second Presbyterian Church Restoration Fund during the 1950's, and chairman of the Finance Committee for the Presbyterian Home for the Elderly (Westminster Manor) during the 1960's.

Mr. Adams also served as president of the Cayuga Home for Children and of the Board of Trustees of the Second Presbyterian Church.

He also was chairman in 1957 of the fund raising drive for the Auburn Community Baseball Club and assisted unofficially in numerous other fund-raising activities.

Despite an active public career that spanned five decades, Mr. Adams found time to make a success of his insurance business.

He became an agent for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co., in 1929, and has put more than $8 million in life insurance in force with the company since then.

He was associated with government service in several capacities. Early in his career, he was secretary to the late William Miller Collier, former ambassador to Chile.

He served in the Army during World War 1, and during World War II was deputy director of transportation for the Auburn Civil Defense Group.

Mr. Adams received his early experience in fund-raising as campaign manager for Ward, Wells, and Dreshman, a New York City based philanthropic firm. He directed numerous drives for the company, culminating with the Woodrow Wilson Fund Campaign.

Surviving are his wife, Charlotte Ross Adams; one son, Charles, and five grandchildren, Douglas, Arthur, Peter, Kathryn, and Winifred Adams.