NABET-CWA's Jim Adams Dies of Heart Ailment

James G. Adams, whose career began as an "on air" personality 45 years ago and who retired as a NABET-CWA staff representative only 16 months ago, died of a heart ailment on May 4 at his home in Germantown, Md. He was 63.

Adams' first job in the broadcasting industry was with WSTV in Steubenville, Ohio, as a disc jockey. Besides working as a disc jockey, Adams also worked as a newsman, a weather reporter, sportscaster, bandstand host, a commercial voice, and puppeteer. He and the puppet, called "Hoss," were a hit with kids of all ages, friends say.

Over the years, Adams worked with Army Radio Services in Fort Knox, Ky., and at KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, Pa., WNEM-TV in Saginaw, Mich., and WGER-FM in Bay City, Mich.

It was while employed at the Bay City station that Adams began his rise through the ranks as a union official, serving NABET Local 48 as president and as a member of several constitutional convention committees with the national union.

Adams was tapped by the president of NABET as a full-time union staff representative in 1979 and relocated to Washington, D.C., where he served until his retirement in January 1997.

Survivors include his wife, Bev; seven children, James G. of Frederick, Md., Scott A. of Germantown, Jamie Muddiman of Bel Air, Md., Michael T. McCaffrey of Pinconning, Mich., Cindy Miller of Novi, Mich., and Vicki Hill and Kim Fassezke, both of Saginaw, Mich., and nine grandchildren.