Joseph Glen Adams

Joseph “Glen" Adams of Austin, TX, passed away on January 5, 2026, at the age of 87. He was born November 17, 1938, in El Paso, TX, to Joseph Leon Adams and Alice Margaret (McFadden) Adams. Glen grew up in a family of modest means, “Baby Brother" to a doting older sister, Patsy Sue, and warmly supported and encouraged by loving parents.

Glen graduated Ysleta High School Class of 1957, having emerged as a student body leader throughout the years—member of the National Honor Society; Student Council officer his sophomore, junior, and senior years; awarded the title, “Mr. YHS,” and more. Glen also earned a reputation for excelling at sports—especially football. Among other achievements, Glen lead Ysleta football to a district championship in 1956 season play, and received the Thom McAn Football Trophy for Excellence, awarded by the El Paso Herald Post, in Spring 1957.

Glen’s prowess on the football field helped secure his appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. During his West Point career, Glen continued to excel, both on and off the field. Not only was he a valuable contributor to Army Football's 1958 undefeated season, he led the country in punt returns throughout most of the 1960 season. He was named Commander of the Third Battalion of the Second Regiment during his senior year and, decades later, served as his class's Vice President from 2001-2011.

After graduating West Point in the top quarter of the Class of 1961, Glen served at the United States Army Base in Wiesbaden, Germany. While serving in Germany, Glen met and married Carole Darlene Grant, an Illinois, USA, native, who was teaching in the Army base’s school. Following Glen's tour of duty, the couple returned to the United States in Summer 1964. A few months later, just before Glen began his studies at the University of Texas School of Law, his eldest daughter, Kimberly, was born. Tragically, Carole died soon after (due to a previously undiagnosed medical condition).

Looking toward a future in which he would provide for his family, Glen moved forward with his plan to attend UT Law, from which he earned a Bachelor of Laws Degree (as awarded at the time), January 1967 (retroactively conferred as a Doctor of Jurisprudence), and fulfilling all requirements to be licensed as Attorney and Counselor at Law in the State of Texas the following May.

During that time, Glen met fellow UT Law student, Ellen Louise Hendrix. They married in September 1966, and Ellen lovingly adopted Kimberly. Over the next few years, Glen and Ellen added two daughters to their family—Kathryn, born in 1968, and Melissa, born in 1969.

In later years, Glen told a friend and former West Point classmate that attending and graduating the Academy “changed the trajectory of his life.” He experienced a wider world and imagined possibilities he'd not dreamt he could consider—pursuing a law degree, for instance. While noting on resumes that he was a West Point graduate almost certainly “opened doors,” years of, “showing up and following through”—starting in his youth and continuing through honing his leadership skills at an institution of higher learning as prestigious as West Point—"grew" Glen in such a way that, when given the opportunity, he showed up, followed through, and continued to grow.

Over the course of his career, Glen practiced law with highly-respected Dallas law firms such as Roach and Robertson, before focusing on corporate law, serving as General Counsel for entities including Electronic Data Systems and Texas Industries, and later specializing in corporate bankruptcy law. Additionally, Glen served on various corporate boards of directors.

Though he enjoyed successes in these arenas, Glen did not spend all of his time in boardrooms and courtrooms. Throughout the years, when not wearing a business suit, Glen played lacrosse (another sport he’d played at West Point) on a newly-formed Dallas, TX, “club” team. He also hatched chicks in an incubator set atop the laundry room refrigerator and nurtured them in a make-shift “hutch" in the garage of his young family's North Dallas home, providing his daughters a small peek into the childhood he had experienced. (Grown chickens were re-homed to a nearby private school that featured a “barnyard").

Though not featured in a popular riddle, turtles also like to cross the road—even busy highways—to get to the other side. For reasons unknown or long forgotten, Glen had a heart for helping them do so. Family road trips involved hundreds of miles of highway travel, providing ample opportunity for Glen to indulge his penchant for saving imperiled turtles. Often espying a turtle far in the distance, he readied himself to pull the family's station wagon to the side of the road, jump out of the car, dash to rescue the reptile from a highway lane, then carry it to the safety of the grassy verge that was its presumed destination. Once, however, he went so far as to “carry" the turtle home with his family, where it had access to fresh veggies and water until venturing from the suburban backyard to cross yet another road.

And, even as a husband and busy father of three, Glen continued to be interested in learning new things. He not only learned to ride a unicycle, he upped the ante by learning to juggle while riding it! Taking it a step further (if you will), Glen learned to walk on his hands—delighting his family (and amusing fellow patrons) during a visit to Six Flags Over Texas.

He went on to successfully restore a vintage Mercedes coupe (perhaps “learning something new" was the point, as it was both the first and last such restoration); draw the floorplan for his family's next home (there was a slight glitch—but he was an attorney, not an architect!); and “develop" almost half of the new home's backyard into a garden reminiscent of the one his father had cultivated in an otherwise ordinary suburban El Paso backyard in his retirement years.

Around that time, Glen, along with a friend, purchased acreage in East Texas, familiarly known as, “The Farm,” which included a small lake they stocked with bass for fishing, and upon which they raised a few head of cattle, while also creating a “weekend getaway" from the hustle and bustle of North Dallas corporate life.

After over a decade together, Glen and Ellen divorced and, a few years later, Glen married Jeri Allen. After both retired from their respective careers, they moved from Dallas to Southern California.

In SoCal, the next chapter of Glen's life included developing more dear friendships and enjoying the area's weather and natural beauty. Glen took up golf, but, due to back and knee surgeries, didn't pursue it as fervently as he had tackled sports in his younger years. Even so, it was a great way to spend time with friends and, for that reason, he enjoyed it. Glen and Jeri also enjoyed traveling, especially with friends— both throughout the United States and abroad—as well as spending time with children and grandchildren.

In the summer of 2016, Glen and Jeri returned to Texas, this time settling in Austin, making their home at Longhorn Village in Steiner Ranch. They were sad to leave so many dear friends in California, but were warmly welcomed by the Longhorn Village community and were especially happy to once again live closer to family and (friends who are family) Toni and Mickey Williams.

When Glen faced the loss and sadness of Jeri's unexpected passing a short year later, their new friends continued to embrace Glen—respecting his need to grieve, while also encouraging him to join them for Thursday “Sip and Sing” in the Longhorn Village Lounge, followed by dinner in the adjoining dining room. Over time, friendships deepened and new ones formed. Important at any time, this proved to be a special blessing when the COVID pandemic resulted in Longhorn Village temporarily closing its dining rooms and discontinuing community-organized group activities. If not for friends stopping by for a visit on his villa's patio and, especially, Mary Jo Culver sharing mealtimes and gin rummy games with him, Glen’s in-person relationships would have been limited to weekly visits from daughters.

In Spring 2023, Glen moved to Longhorn Village’s Lantana Lodge and, in May 2025, to Casa Mesquite. In those years, friendships continued, new ones developed, and old ones were rekindled. Glen continued to enjoy playing gin rummy, joined the Men's Talking Group and, over time, participated in weekly Bingo games and other activities.

Glen will be remembered for his warm smile—always genuine, but, occasionally, including a twinkle in his eye, as though sharing an inside joke; his sense of humor; asking, “You're alright?;” responding, “Si,” and, “Mi tiendo,”—and otherwise conversing in Spanish to whatever extent someone would indulge him; his concern regarding the level of seed in the bird feeders (which Kathryn devotedly attended to); and asking about his grandkids—plus being especially pleased about becoming a great-grandfather.

Glen's family is grateful to the many Longhorn Village Healthcare staff members, nurses, CNA's, and other caregivers who didn't just "do their jobs," but did them with grace, humor, patience, and love. Preparing and serving tasty meals...and also anticipating a cranberry juice refill. Cleaning Dad's apartment or room...and also patiently picking up the one little thing the vacuum cleaner missed but he saw. Being on top of Dad's healthcare needs...and also opting for gentle encouragement over demanding insistence when his “game plan” differed from what needed to be done. Providing fun and creative activities and encouraging Dad to participate. Warmly welcoming visitors—even while fielding phone calls or working on the computer. Maintaining building safety for residents and staff...and more.

Even as Glen's family holds dear so many past and present Lantana, Casa, and Palmetto (though Dad didn't reside there) staff members and caregivers, they want to express special appreciation to Success Kuchawo. He didn't simply “check the boxes” of the professional standards required of him, he interacted with and related to Dad as a person with a history filled with stories to tell, and also cared about “how life was treating him” on any given day. Further, Success seemed to truly always have Dad's best interest in mind, working with family members as best he could to consider all possible options for Dad’s care, not just the easiest or most expedient ones. Success's warm, open smile expresses the generosity of his heart, leaving no doubt that he cares sincerely and wishes only the best for your loved one—and also for you.

Glen is survived by his daughters, Kimberly Sandman (Chris) of Marble Falls, TX; Kathryn Vaughn (Earl) of Cedar Park, TX; Melissa Adams of Lubbock, TX; his grandchildren, Grant Sandman (Lizzy) of Bryan, TX; Jeremy Sandman of Marble Falls, TX; Emma Vaughn of Chicago, IL; Adam Vaughn of Bryan, TX; great-grandson, Theo Sandman, of Bryan, TX; nieces and nephews, and many dear friends, including (friends that are family) Toni and Mickey Williams, Horseshoe Bay, TX.

Glen is preceded in death by his parents, Leon and Margaret Adams; sister, Patsy (Adams) McCune (Harvey); wife, Carole (Grant) Adams; wife, Ellen (Hendrix) Adams; wife, Jeri (Argo Allen) Adams; stepson, Todd Allen; and stepdaughter, Connie Allen.

No service is planned; rather, family will gather at a later date to share memories and celebrate Glen's life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Glen's memory to Gift Operations, West Point Association of Graduates, 698 Mills Road, West Point, NY, 10996. Please make checks payable to West Point Association of Graduates and designate the Army Football Team Fund in the memo section. Donations can also be made online at: https://alumni.westpointaog.org/sports?giveto=armyfootball .