Claud Vivian Adams -- Outstanding Citizen of the City

 

Claud V. Adams

Claud Vivian Adams was born on July 2, 1927 in Trigg County, Kentucky, the son of Major Richard Adams and Deanie Katherine Henderson Adams. Both Major and Deanie were natives of Trigg County where Major was a farmer and a carpenter.  Claud had three siblings, Lillian Nell Adams, Eliza Belle Adams and William R. Adams.

Claud attended school in Trigg County and after graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U. S. Army on February 17, 1946.  He was discharged from the service on July 20, 1947 and he returned to Trigg County.

On June 6, 1950, he married Bobbie Jean Thomas.  Bobbie was born November 8, 1933, the daughter of Josh Herschel Thomas and Inous Wallace Thomas. Herschel and Inous were natives of Trigg County where he had worked as a farmer.  Bobbie had two siblings, Betty Jane Thomas and Josh Howard Thomas. Bobbie worked as a seamstress at the Western State Hospital in Hopkinsville, Kentucky and the Economy CeeBee Grocery Store in Cadiz.  Claude and Bobbie had one child, a daughter, Connie Faye Adams, born on December 2, 1953 in Cadiz, Kentucky.

Claud worked in the Ford tractor and equipment business for over 31 years.  He was a partner of the Burke-Thomas Company in Cadiz.  As a parts manager he had a phenomenal recall for the part numbers and bin locations where parts were kept.  When a customer brought in an old part, Claud could recite the part's number and immediately locate the bin where the part was kept.

Claud served as an active member of the Cadiz Volunteer Fire Department.  The fire department was the oldest fire department in Trigg County having been founded in the late 1920s when a major fire burned downtown Cadiz.  Claud served as a volunteer fireman for 25 years.  In 1968, he became the Chief of the Cadiz Volunteer Fire Department, a position he held for 12 years until his death in 1980.

Claud also served as the chairman of the City of Cadiz Water and Sewer Commission for 8 years. He was also a member of the Pennyrile Area Development District Disaster and Emergency Service Commission. Claud’s other civic responsibilities including membership in the local Chamber of Commerce, the Trigg County Farm Bureau and Kentucky’s Western Waterlands.

Claud died on July 27, 1980 at the Trigg County Hospital at the age of 53 after a 14 month bout with cancer.   He was buried in the East End Cemetery in Cadiz.  His wife, Bobbie, died on November 9, 2002 in Denton, Texas where she had moved to be with her daughter.  She was buried in the East End Cemetery next to her husband.

 Claud and Bobbie Adams

Claud as a parts manager

Tombstone of Claud and Bobbie Adams

LINEAGE:  (Claud Vivian Adams was the husband of Bobbie Jean Thomas.  Bobbie was the daughter of Josh Hershel and Inous Undine Wallace Thomas and the granddaughter of Alfred Claude and Mamie Jane Stallons Thomas.  Alfred was the third child of Robert Allison and Emma Nora Cunningham Thomas.  Robert was the fifth child of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas.  Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas.  Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)