Alfred O. Adams

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Dr. Alfred O. Adams
Adams in 1967
Member of the Washington House of Representatives for the 6th district
In office
1953–1969
Personal details
Born(1897-01-10)January 10, 1897
Paola, Kansas, U.S.
DiedOctober 25, 1989(1989-10-25) (aged 92)
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Political partyRepublican

Alfred O. Adams (January 10, 1897 – October 25, 1989) was an American politician in the state of Washington. He served in the Washington House of Representatives from 1953 to 1969 for District 6. Throughout his time in office, Adams was noted for advocating fiscal responsibility and for his tough-on-crime stance.

Early life and education[edit]

Adams was born in Paola, Kansas, on January 10, 1897. During World War I, Adams was a member of the Missouri National Guard and served in England before moving to St. Louis, Missouri for college. Adams graduated from the Washington University School of Medicine in 1924.[1]

Medical career[edit]

Adams began his medical career as an intern at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis, followed by positions at the Shriner's Hospital in St. Louis and the Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. In 1930, Adams moved to Spokane, Washington to become chief surgeon of the city's Shriner's Hospital.[2] He quickly became involved in the local medical community, becoming a member of the Spokane County Medical Society in 1935 and the Pacific Coast Surgical Society in 1937.[3][4] At the time Adams moved to Spokane, the Shriner's hospital was renting space from another Spokane hospital. Under his leadership the hospital moved to a stand-alone building and began to focus heavily on children's orthopedic surgery.[5] Adams resigned from the Shriner's Hospital in 1946 to enter private practice and began consulting at the University of Washington School of Medicine in 1950.[6][7] He retired from medicine in 1955.[5]

Political career[edit]

In 1952, Adams entered the Republican primary for the state representative position in Washington's 6th legislative district, citing the need for a balanced budget and cutting government spending as reasons for running.[8][9] Adams won the general election along with fellow Republican Elmer E. Johnston.[10] During his first term in office he partnered with Wilfred A. Gamon, the only other medical doctor in the house, to sponsor legislation creating a doctor's office at the Washington State Capitol.[11] In 1955, Adams supported efforts to increase medical services at mental hospitals and to require doctors practicing in Washington to be licensed in-state.[12] That same year, Adams opposed a successful measure to require people with certain medical conditions to go through additional scrutiny to receive a driver's license.[13] Adams also sponsored legislation to create a disciplinary system for doctors found to be violating professional standards.[14]

Adams sponsored legislation in 1957 that would have required candidates for public office publicly state their place of birth, education, and employment history on the ballot.[15] Adams was a dedicated opponent of what he viewed as government waste, attacking successful legislation to increase welfare benefits.[16] He also criticized the construction of state agency field offices in Spokane for utilizing a secret bidding process in 1958.[17] Following his criticism, Governor Albert Rosellini cancelled the construction and the plan's originator resigned.[18][19] In 1959 Adams sponsored legislation allowing hospitals to involuntarily commit people suspected of having mental disorders and immunizing those hospitals from lawsuits.[20]

Adams supported 1960 efforts to require prisoners to pay rent while imprisoned, claiming that taxpayers should not have to support them.[21] The following year, Adams sponsored legislation attempting to block the construction of the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton, saying that Shelton was a poor location because it would make it more difficult for the area to attract high-quality professionals.[22][23] He also sponsored legislation to streamline the organ donation process and opposed legislation to expand the state healthcare system to developmentally-disabled children.[24][25] After legislators proposed changes to the state's discrimination statue in 1961, Adams became a vocal opponent of the State Board Against Discrimination, describing it as violating due process.[26]

Adams continued his tough-on-crime stance in 1962, ordering a probe of the state parole process.[27] The following year Adams furthered his previous conflicts with Governor Rosellini when Rosellini aired his budget address on statewide television, demanding equal airtime for the legislature's Republicans.[28] Also in 1963 Adams testified in former state legislator John Goldmark's libel case for claims that Goldmark was sympathetic to Communists. Adams alleged that Goldmark's loyalty to the United States was "questionable".[29] Adams sponsored legislation to punish welfare fraud with prison time in 1964 and proposed reforms to the State Board Against Discrimination in 1965 that would guarantee a jury trial for people accused of discrimination.[30][31] After introducing the latter legislation, Adams accused the Board as being "the most biased thing we have in the state of Washington" and said that Spokane did not have a discrimination problem.[32]

In 1967, Adams supported legislation extending greater authority to nurses in making medical decisions.[33] The legislation allowed nurses to administer certain drugs and shots as long as a licensed physician was present.[34] The following year Adams sponsored legislation to legalize heart transplants in Washington.[35] Before opting to resign at the end of 1969, Adams supported two more tough-on-crime pieces of legislation: One that would have required prison time for drug addicts and one that would have expanded police officer's legal use of force.[36][37][38] After his retirement, Adams served as a presidential elector for the 1972 presidential election.[39]

Personal life[edit]

Adams' first wife was Helen Bessie Adams, who died on April 30, 1962.[40] Adams married his second wife, Lulu M. Wilson, a widow, on April 11, 1964.[41][42] The two had one son, Roy Adams. Adams died on October 25, 1989.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Adams, Alfred O., Dr". Social Networks and Archival Context. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Comes to Head Child Hospital". The Spokesman-Review. January 6, 1930. p. 6. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  3. ^ "Medical Group Names Officers". The Spokesman-Review. January 11, 1935. p. 9. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  4. ^ "Surgical Society Honors Dr. Adams". Spokane Chronicle. March 2, 1937. p. 3. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Alfred Adams, former legislator and chief surgeon, dies at age 92". The Spokesman-Review. October 27, 1989. p. 20. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  6. ^ "Dr. Adams Resigns as Shrine Surgeon; Post to Dr. Brown". Spokane Chronicle. December 11, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  7. ^ "Dr. Adams Named Consultant at U." Spokane Chronicle. July 14, 1950. p. 3. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  8. ^ "Physician to File for Legislature". Spokane Chronicle. June 30, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  9. ^ "More Candidates Report Qualifications in League Survey". The Spokesman-Review. September 18, 1952. p. 6. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  10. ^ "Spokane County Returns Listed". The Spokesman-Review. November 6, 1952. p. 19. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  11. ^ "Bills Increasing State Debt Hit". The Spokesman-Review. January 23, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  12. ^ Reilly, W. Newland (January 21, 1955). "Services Held Deficient at Mental Institutions". Spokane Chronicle. p. 9. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  13. ^ "Curbs on Road Dangers Voted". The Spokesman-Review. February 22, 1955. p. 20. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  14. ^ "Medical Bill Passes First Major Hurdle". Spokane Chronicle. February 24, 1955. p. 4. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  15. ^ "'Tell All' Bill Is Introduced". Spokane Chronicle. January 24, 1957. p. 8. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  16. ^ "Welfare Bill Attack Led by Dr. Adams". The Spokesman-Review. February 7, 1957. p. 24. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  17. ^ "GOP Lawmaker Scores Secrecy, Cost Aspects". The Spokesman-Review. August 14, 1958. p. 16. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  18. ^ "State's Building Plan Is Canceled". The Spokesman-Review. September 4, 1958. p. 1. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  19. ^ "Resignation by Nelson Is Accepted". The Spokesman-Review. December 11, 1958. p. 10. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  20. ^ "Mentally Ill Bill Proposed". Spokane Chronicle. January 30, 1959. p. 14. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  21. ^ "Prisoners Would Have To Pay Keep". Tri-City Herald. December 5, 1960. p. 7. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  22. ^ "Shelton Prison Site Political Fight Seen". The Olympian. January 13, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  23. ^ Lawrence, Dick (February 1, 1961). "Lawmakers Get Another Look At Shelton Penal Agency Plan". The Olympian. p. 1. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  24. ^ "Body Donation Topic of Bill". Spokane Chronicle. January 26, 1961. p. 15. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  25. ^ "Mrs. Epton's Child Care Bill Passes". The Spokesman-Review. February 8, 1961. p. 2. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  26. ^ "Board's Stand Called Unfair". Spokane Chronicle. April 15, 1961. p. 3. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  27. ^ "Paroles of 2 in Gun Death Case probed". The Spokesman-Review. February 27, 1962. p. 5. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  28. ^ Fischer, Jack E. (January 9, 1963). "Irate GOP Asks Equal Air Time". The Spokesman-Review. p. 5. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  29. ^ "Defense Witness Defines 'Liberal'". Spokane Chronicle. December 12, 1963. p. 14. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  30. ^ "Prison Urged for Welfare Fraud". Kitsap Sun. January 30, 1965. p. 12. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  31. ^ Pyle, Jack (May 18, 1965). "House Adds Jury Trial To Rights Bill". The News Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  32. ^ "House Clears Real Estate Rights Bill". The News Tribune. March 21, 1965. p. 8. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  33. ^ "Practical Nursing Rule May Be Eased". Spokane Chronicle. January 10, 1967. p. 13. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  34. ^ "Practical Nurse Drug Bill Debuts". The Spokesman-Review. January 15, 1967. p. 5. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  35. ^ "Heart Transplant Said Legal Here". Spokane Chronicle. January 3, 1968. p. 3. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  36. ^ "Drug Abuse Problem Held Statewide, Action Is Urged". The Spokesman-Review. February 11, 1968. p. 21. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  37. ^ Cummings, Robert (September 16, 1968). "Backstage Olympia". The Bellingham Herald. p. 16. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  38. ^ "State of Washington Members of the Legislature, 1889 – 2011" (PDF). Washington State Legislature. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 20, 2022.
  39. ^ "No True Retirement For Busy 80-year Old". Spokane Chronicle. January 7, 1977. p. 4. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  40. ^ "Death Takes Mrs. Adams at Age 65". The Spokesman-Review. May 2, 1962. p. 6. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  41. ^ "Mrs. Harold C. Wilson, Dr. A. O. Adams Married". The Spokesman-Review. April 12, 1964. p. 15. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  42. ^ "Wilson, Harold C." The Spokesman-Review. January 31, 1961. p. 21. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
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