Ohio University's first black student to graduate with a degree in journalism died in his home Saturday.
Alvin Adams, a 1959 graduate, was a founding member of OU's Kappa Alpha Psi chapter and a founder of the Multicultural Genealogical Center in Chesterhill, Ohio. He was awarded the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism's L.J. Horton Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2003.
After working in newspaper, magazine and public relations, Adams retired and returned to the Athens area a few years ago. He worked closely with OU's Department of African-American Studies to create Community and Campus Day, an annual celebration of the cultural history of African-Americans and their experiences in the Ohio River Valley.
The next Community and Campus Day is scheduled for May 22.
He loved his alma mater. He was a dear friend of the department of African-American Studies
said Vibert Cambridge, chair of the department of African-American Studies. He will be remembered as someone who had pride in the contributions African-Americans have made to the American dream and the American success. He was just an outstanding generous man.
Adams also routinely spoke with journalism classes at OU and worked with United Campus Ministries as a presenter for their tours of historic Underground Railroad sites of southeast Ohio, UCM's Jan Griesinger said.
I count him as a friend; it's a terrible loss for us Griesinger said.
Adams and his wife of 43 years, Ada Adams, had two children, daughter Amelia Marie Adams and son A. Clay Adams III.
People will remember him as a soft-spoken
gentle person
one who thought very carefully about what he said and how he said it
said Ada Adams. I can say the university was very important to him
also.
Memorial services will be Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at Jagers and Sons Funeral Home in Athens, with burial at Greenlawn Cemetery immediately following. Visitation hours will be today from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Flowers can be sent to Jagers and Sons Funeral Home, and donations can be made in Adams' name to the Multicultural Genealogical Center Building Fund, c/o Mildred Vore, treasurer, P.O. Box 125, Chesterhill, Ohio, 43728.
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