Lawrence (Larry) Adams, BG USA (Ret)

Retired Army B/General Lawrence (Larry) Adams of Melbourne died on October 31, 2014. General Adams borne in Dallas, Texas. He enjoyed two careers. The first 28 year career was military in which he served in the Army, in the white house and as a GS-18 in the Office of the Secretary of defense. His second career was as a corporate telecommunications executive which spanned another 30 years. He grew up in Irving, Texas where he attended public schools and later married his high school sweetheart, the former Martha Ann Jackson. He was a graduate of the University of Nebraska, George Washington University, Army Command and General Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College, and was a distinguished graduate of the Naval War College in Newport, RI.

His Army service took him around the world. He and his family served in Germany and France. He had multiple combat tours in Korea and in Vietnam. During the 1950s he was the Signal officer for the atomic tests in the Nevada desert. Later he commanded the Pentagon Telecommunications Center. During the Vietnam War he commanded the largest Signal Group in South East Asia and was Deputy Commanding General of the largest Signal Brigade in the Army. Upon return from Vietnam, he was appointed Commander of the White House Communications Agency where he served two Presidents (President Nixon and President Ford) for almost four years travelling with and for the President to most states and dozens of countries. During his White House assignment his agency provided the President, Vice President, White House staff, Secret Service, and National Security Council with secure telecommunications, computer support, television, radio, and photographic support. When the President travelled, Adams went with him. Upon leaving the White House he was assigned as a Deputy Director of Operations, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Adams military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star, Presidential Service Medal, Vietnam Honor Medal, Army and Joint Service Commendation Medals. In 1993 he was inducted into the Army Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame, Fort Benning, Georgia.

After leaving government, Adams served as Executive Vice President, Armed Forces Communications and Electronic Association. In subsequent years he worked as a communications consultant and manager for a wide variety of national and international organizations. In retirement he served in many volunteer capacities including membership on the Board of Culpeper Virginia Community Hospital, President of the Health Services Corporation, Culpeper, Virginia, member of the Board, National Science Center for telecommunications and electronics, Chairman of the Board of Elders and Trustee, Lake of the Woods Church in Virginia, Board of Directors, Lake of the Woods Association, Member of the board, IRCC Chapel Foundation. He moved from Virginia to Indian River Colony Club, Melbourne, Florida in 1990.

He is predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Martha Ann. He is survived by daughters Sharon Jacobs (Jerry) of Nokesville, Virginia and Susan Gerber (Stan) of Palm Bay, Florida, 10 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be conducted at 10am on Wednesday at Faith Viera Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Chapel Fund at IRCC or the Wuesthoff Hospice House. Arrangements entrusted to the Life Event Center at Florida Memorial, condolences may be left at www.floridamemorialfh-gardens.com.