Distinguished Service Award

Tommy Adams ’72

The Distinguished Service category, which recognizes “loyal alumni who have rendered outstanding service and have made significant contributions to benefit the University” was presented to Tommy Adams ’72.

Tommy attended Beckley College beginning in 1969 and says “the bonds and friendships I made during my time at Beckley College have had a tremendous impact on me. Beckley College was the beginning of my entry into adulthood and life.”

Tommy, who was a member of Kappa Theta Phi fraternity, says, “The lessons learned, friendships formed, and my first introduction to people from diverse backgrounds and different states and regions was a true learning experience.”

Tommy credits his experience at MSU for helping him to realize the importance of education and to appreciate the hands-on approach taken by Dr. John Saunders and D.K. Shroyer. He says that he didn’t really take his studies seriously his first year and was enjoying himself a little too much. As a result he was flunking out. Dr. Saunders came to him and told him that he was going to have to shape up or ship out, and Tommy chose to stay and work harder.

Tommy says, “Dr. Saunders and D.K. Shroyer had the greatest impact on my life and helped me to mature and truly realize and appreciate the opportunity I had to obtain a college education. Dr. Saunders granted me a huge favor and gave me a break at a very important juncture in my life to become more serious about my grades and my education. To not squander a wonderful opportunity and to be more serious about my future and more serious about my development as an individual—what a gift.”

Tommy went on to graduate in 1972 and then attended Christopher Newport University where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in political science and a minor in United States history. From 1976 to 1980 Tommy was very politi-cally involved, serving as executive director and head lobbyist for Com-mon Cause of Virginia and working on various political campaigns.

Tommy taught government and United States history at the secondary level from 1980 to 1986 and earned his master’s degree in education in 1988. From 1989 to present he has been a realtor with William E. Wood and Associates in Smith-field, Virginia.

One of the true great loves in Tommy’s life is music. He and two of his friends, Chris Donoghue ’70 and Stewart Anderson ’71, have approximately 3,000 albums and 4,000 CDs. Their shared passion for music inspired Tommy and his friends to think about Mountain State University. Over the last couple of years the idea of building a music library became part of their vision and dream for the future.

The Anderson-Donoghue-Adams Music Library Endowment was established in October 2005. The goal of the endowment is to create, maintain, and expand a music and listening library. Tommy, Chris, and Stewart have made a commitment to continue their love of music for generations to come by leaving their musical collections to Mountain State University.