James B. Adams
Encyclopedia
James Blackburn Adams is a former attorney, Texas legislator, and acting director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
.
James B. Adams was born in Corsicana
, Texas
in 1926. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II
and returned to Texas to obtain a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Baylor University
and a law degree from Baylor Law School
. He then became a prosecuting attorney and legislator in Texas, resigning his seat in the state legislature to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation
on July 9, 1951 as a 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.
In early 1977 FBI director Clarence M. Kelley
announced his intention to retire and on September 30, 1977 President Jimmy Carter
nominated Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. 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. Eventually Carter settled upon William H. Webster and nominated him in January 1978.
Adams served as Acting Director of the FBI from Kelley's retirement on February 15, 1978 to February 23 of the same year, when Webster was sworn in. Adams was then appointed to the number two position in the FBI, Associate Director, on April 6, 1978, retiring from the FBI on May 11, 1979. He then returned to Texas where he served in various law enforcement related positions until 1987.
In the month of January 2007 James Blackburn Adams received the Baylor Distinguished Alumni Award.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
.
James B. Adams was born in Corsicana
Corsicana, Texas
Corsicana is a city in Navarro County, Texas, United States. It is located on Interstate 45 some fifty-five miles south of downtown Dallas. The population was 24,485 at the 2000 census...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in 1926. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and returned to Texas to obtain a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
and a law degree from Baylor Law School
Baylor Law School
Founded in 1857, Baylor Law School is the oldest law school in Texas and has been accredited by the American Bar Association since 1931 and a member of the Association of American Law Schools since 1938. Baylor Law School is affiliated with Baylor University and located in Waco, Texas...
. He then became a prosecuting attorney and legislator in Texas, resigning his seat in the state legislature to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
on July 9, 1951 as a 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
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. 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.
In early 1977 FBI director Clarence M. Kelley
Clarence M. Kelley
Clarence M. Kelley was a public servant who served as the 2nd Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation....
announced his intention to retire and on September 30, 1977 President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
nominated Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties: Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Coffee, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Elmore, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Lowndes,...
to the post. However Johnson developed severe health problems and Carter withdrew the nomination in December. Eventually Carter settled upon William H. Webster and nominated him in January 1978.
Adams served as Acting Director of the FBI from Kelley's retirement on February 15, 1978 to February 23 of the same year, when Webster was sworn in. Adams was then appointed to the number two position in the FBI, Associate Director, on April 6, 1978, retiring from the FBI on May 11, 1979. He then returned to Texas where he served in various law enforcement related positions until 1987.
In the month of January 2007 James Blackburn Adams received the Baylor Distinguished Alumni Award.