The Autobiography of Ltc John (Jack) H. Adams from 1931 to 2011: Volume 1

By Jack Adams

This book is an autobiography of my life with my brother, Don from my early years growing up in Washington, D.C. as my mother Bernice Augusta along with my father for part of the period nurtured, sacrificed and cared for us with meager funds. . After separation from my father, my mother struggled even more and for several years twice sent us to Tulsa, Ok, where we were nurtured and given the utmost love, and learned to honor Jesus Christ by my maternal Grandmother, Minnie Mae Guess, who we affectionately called Mama Dear. Quintessentially my greatest fortune in my life was meeting and marrying Helen, who I met at Howard University. As I reflect back on our 52 years of marriage, she was the catalyst for any career success I had in the military and later in the U.S Government and for writing this book. She loved & adored her four children and a committed worshiper of Jesus Christ. However after her passing, I was again so fortunate to meet a gracious and lovely lady, named Rolando who has also accepted me with all of my imperfections and have made my life complete. Jack Adams

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 10, 2012
• ISBN: 9781467071994

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© 2012 by Jack Adams. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 02/01/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4670-7200-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4670-7198-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4670-7199-4 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011960816

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JACK H. ADAMS FROM 1931 TO 2011 REASON FOR WRITING:

PREAMBLE:

BIOGRAPHY OF JACK H. ADAMS

LTC(RET) JOHN (JACK) H. ADAMS, JR. SES

SENIOR EXEC. SVCS.

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14121 NICKLAUS DRIVE

OVERLAND PARK, KS. 66223-3349

913-851-5058, [e-mail]

October 21, 2011

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF JACK H. ADAMS FROM 1931 TO 2011 REASON FOR WRITING:

As I have reached my 79th birthday, I felt a compelling need to record certain aspects of my life story, and to make it available for relatives, especially my grand & great grand children, and friends who may have some interest in my life either now or in the future. I believe it would be especially interesting for any future off-springs who have never met me or my first wife, Helen as to how we met and how our life evolved. Also this could be a genealogical tool for any relative who may be interested in researching your ancestors. You will also be able to view how my life progressed after Helen Estelle Johnson Adams passed, and I later met and married another great lady Rolando Zealey McLaughlin. I have attempted to maintain as much as I can the time chronology, although you will note that I do retrogress in citing certain events, and display of the voluminous pictures and documents which should assist in relating the story of my life. I will admit up front, that I have made many mistakes, and I have deeply regretted some of the heartaches and harm that I may have done to my immediate family including Helen. As has been stated by a philosopher, there is no Act IV in life, you can’t relive your life and correct your mistakes. You just have to ask forgiveness from those you may have harmed, and attempt to correct your behavior and actions in the future. During Helen’s last illness, she remarked to a couple of persons that Jack had been a great trooper in taking care of me. In fact, a nurse’s aide at Shawnee Mission Hospital who had been placing nail polish & a design on Helen’s toes, had mentioned in front of Helen, and Denise also, that she had told her boyfriend, that if he wants to marry her—He would have to take care of her in the manner that this guy (Jack) does for his wife in the hospital. As you read this Autobio, and begin to make judgments about actions and events, you should consider the existing social and economic environment at that particular time—frame in history—especially the status of the racial tolerance at that period of time in our Nation. I hope you will derive some enjoyment from reading, and viewing my life story, and be tolerant to me as a person with human frailties, but also a strong belief in Almighty God.

Humbly Yours, JACK

PREAMBLE:

I was married to Helen E. Johnson Adams for 52 years, and she passed away on August 11, 2005. I remarried Rolando Zealey McLaughlin on Nov. 26th, 2006. She was also a widow. Although I have started my autobiography from the beginning, I want to briefly accelerate or ratchet up the time frame by inserting this new event into my life, before I start recalling my life from my earliest time period. The picture on the front cover of this book encapsulates this new start of my life.

BIOGRAPHY OF JACK H. ADAMS

BIRTH INFORMATION:

Jack was born on Monday December 21, 1931(Sagittarius) at Columbia Hospital for Women in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. This hospital closed in May 2002. My daughter Denise Pamela Adams Hill was also born at this hospital on May 29, 1954. I (Jack) was the result of a union of Bernice Augusta Adams, and John Henry Adams Sr. I don’t believe that my mother and father were ever formally married, which does not necessarily concern me, as they would have been Common Law married as a couple. My brother, Don Maurice Adams who was also born in D.C. He was born November 7, 1933. My brother also relates to me that my father met my mother through a friend named Addie, (sister to Gladys Welch—a good friend of my mother), whose mother worked at D.C. Courts where my father worked as a Messenger.

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Telegram from infant Jack to My Grandmother

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Jack’s Birth Certificate

As I ruminate about my ancestors, I note that my maternal Grandfather, Attorney Henry Augustus Guess died in April 23, 1931 from a blood clot on his leg that turned to gangrene; therefore he passed away in the same year I was born. When my mother attended his funeral apparently she did not know that she was pregnant?

LIFE’S JOURNEY:

My mother, discussed with me on many occasions about our life at our first family residence on 734 Park Road, N.W. Washington, D.C. where she told me that I rode my tricycle down the concrete steps leading to the house.

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Jack on Tricycle

She often points to the little Knot on my forehead that occurred from this riding adventure. The house number is the origin of my father’s life long lucky number 347. Also it was there, where my mother decided to change my name from Jr to Jack, because she did not like the sound of it as female neighbor used to yell out JR to call her son.

Although I will not be relating my life experiences in perfect time chronology, I will attempt to present them as accurate as possible. I first remember living on Sherman Ave. N.W., with my family. Next door was the Butlers, who had two boys, (Francis Jr. and his younger brother who was affectionately called Baby Brother) and one girl named Miriam. The mother, Alice Butler and my mother later both worked in the U.S. Government, as Elevator Operators for the Public Building Service (PBS—now known as GSA). Alice’s claim to "fame’ was that she could talk on the telephone, or in person to my mother for literally hours. This was so prevalent, that my mother would sometimes try to avoid talking to her on some occasions. Alice later had another daughter who was light skinned (Barbara).

I had some infrequent contact with. Miriam after I became an adult. After I got married, my wife, Helen used to visit Miriam and her husband who live and have lived in a Managed and Planned community, in terms of vehicle-free zones including retail areas in Columbia, Md. As trivia information, Miriam even wanted my son, Don to date her daughter, and she often tried to push and encourage that relationship. She even paid for my son, Don and her daughter to go on a ship cruise.

I also recall that before my mother obtained the job with the government as an elevator operator, my father used to drive my mother, sometimes with my brother, Don and I in the car, to her job working at the laundry at FT. Myer, Arlington, Va. Later my parents moved to a house at 1708 Vermont Ave. N.W. I attended the school behind my house, which was named William Lloyd Garrison (Civil Rights Pioneer) Elementary School. I started there in the third grade. I remember getting extra money from my mother to use on May 1st for wrapping the May Pole at school outside in the play ground area. We also had a female black dog named lady, which I adored. While living there, some kid across the street through a rock and hit me in the forehead. It made a large rising on my forehead, and my mother was very worried as to my condition. My parents were also very angry, and attempted to find out who did it without success.

Also while living there which was in the late 30’s, I used to marvel at the water troughs just off the sidewalks next to the street, which were there so that the many horse-drawn hucksters could water their horses. There were vegetable carts, umbrella repair persons, ice cream carts, Snake oil Salesmen marketing of all types of health cure potions, ice wagons, and the watermelon wagons. The Watermelon hucksters would typically be large Black men in a covered truck, but opened in the rear. From that vantage point, these men. would bellow out a sound like this WO WO WO Watermelon Sweet Just off the Vine. They would slice a piece of watermelon and let you taste it to encourage your buying. Another Huckster was the ICE MAN. On very hot days, he was a welcomed sight. Also when my parents purchased ice for the ICE BOX (Refrigerators did not exist!!) the ice man would chip off a piece for the kids to suck on—really a treat on a hot day. The ice man would cut a large square of ice with an ice pick and then take the large calipers and place the large ice square on his back protected by a large leather covering his back and held by straps over his neck. He would come into your house, and the back into the open ICE BOX and drop the large square of ice into the upper part of the ICE BOX. When he unclips the calipers, the ICE BOX would shake a little from the weight of dropping the large square of ice.

Also I remember, while living there, my parents bought me a sidewalk bicycle. One day another kid came by eating an apple. The apple looked so good to me that I asked him could I have a bite—the kid said you can have it, if you let me take a ride on your bike. As a vulnerable person, I let him ride my bike, and that was the last time I saw that bike. My parents looked for days for the bike, but we never found it Of course, they read me the riot act for being so trusting. I learned my lesson which served me well later in life to be cautious in all areas of life, because there are a lot of good people, but there are others who are out to deceive or take advantage of you.

Also, while living there, there was a much poorer family living on the same block several houses down from ours. My brother, Don and I used to play with the kids there. I remember in their house, their cooking range was one where they heated coals in each of the round burner housing. Even then, I knew that this cooking process was very primitive. One day my mother baked a pie, and left it out on the window ledge in the back to cool off.

The pie later disappeared, and we are almost sure which one of the young boys from that house stole it. We used to call him to ourselves THE PIE EATER. Also during this period, my mother and father had a number of arguments on many different subjects. including about a man who worked at the Justice Dept. as a chauffeur whose name was Clyde Carey. I believe some of this may be true? My father drank a lot, and physically fought with my mother, which resulted in many police visits to our house. Also, during this period, we often had our electricity turned off because of non-payment of the bill. Also the life insurance agents routinely come to your residence to collect premiums. One time, one White agent came to the house, and I answered the door. He asked to speak to my father. My father told me to tell him that he wasn’t home. I went back and actually told the agent My father says he is not at home.

One of the most exciting times, for my brother and me, when in the evening the Good Humor Ice Cream truck would ring his bell accompanied with melodious tunes, which would excite us. One day, I remember my mother had promised me some ice cream from the Good Humor man, but for some reason, he was later than usual. My mother indicated that I would have to go to bed, but that she would wake me up, when the Good Humor man arrives. She kept her promise, as I remember her later in the late evening placing a spoon of vanilla ice cream in my mouth as I was half sleep-but still it tasted so good!!

Our family practiced some form of gypsiess, as my parents moved often. I believe, although I am not sure, they did this probably because they did not always have the funds to pay the rent? Also we left our female dog named Lady, because we were moving into an apartment—so I was concerned about our dog Lady, so my mother took me back there a couple of times to feed Lady. While my brother and I lived at 1708 Vermont Ave. N.W., my father and mother went to New York, for a short visit approximately two or three day visit to the 1939 World’s Fair.

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Elnora Crump, my father’s first cousin came up from Raleigh, N.C. to keep us. After they returned from New York City, my father’s cousin, Geneva allowed her 15 year old daughter, Marie to visit us in D.C. Geneva who lived in New York City was married to a Puerto Rican. As information, there are reportedly more Puerto Ricans living in New York than in the entire commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Her daughter, Marie later married a guy named Burnett and had a son. We kept in contact with them for many years until it drifted to no contact.

However, early this week of the first of April 2011, my son Don was working in Charlotte, N.C. when he happened to discover a lead on some my father’s relatives. As a result, he was able to locate Marie Burnett who is now 87 years of age who for the last couple of months had moved from NYC to Columbia, S.C. to live with her cousin Doris. My brother Don and son have spoken to her, and I have also spoken with her, which was quite a surprise after many years ago. Today, Sunday April 10th 2011, my son called me from Greensboro, N.C. where several of my father’s distant relatives had gathered. Although I also spoke to another Helen Adams in a nursing home, I was really excited about speaking to Dan Adams Jr. His father, Dan Adams Sr. was Geneva’s brother, and one of their daughter’s was Marie, who later married Burnett. Marie indicates she has a picture of me, and she tells about the story of a later visit to N.Y. when I was an adult and took her out on a row boat in Central Park), and during this brief excursion, she found out that I knew nothing about rowing—so she relates to me now (2011) during our telephone conversation that she immediately demanded that I take her back to shore so she could get out of the boat. Marie also tells me that just over a year ago, her husband passed away, and that she also had a daughter, who I have never met.

My brother Don many years before drove down with my son Don, who was staying in D.C. during the summer break from Howard University, to Raleigh and Goldsboro, N.C. He was able to pick up the two pictures from Elnora Crump. The pictures attached, the first is my father’s grandmother, Nancy Bird (Cherokee) sitting down, and the lady standing is Rowena is daddy’s mother, and my father John H. Adams, Sr. is the boy to the right. the second picture is Joe Adams, and his son Ed Adams, who is daddy’s uncle. Joe Adams and Nancy Bird’s children included: Rowena, Georgia, and Ed Adams.

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Nancy Bird, Rowena and John Adams

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L-R, Joe Adams & Son Ed Adams

Aunt Georgia’s children included Elnora, Henry from Philadelphia.(picture of him leaning down watching me as a small child walking)

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Henry and Jack

Ed ‘s children included Geneva and Dan Adams.

While we lived on Vermont Ave, my mother, who believed completely in Jesus Christ, worshipped him & believed in seeking redemption of sins. She, often took my brother and me to the nearby Metropolitan Baptist Church on many Sundays. I remembered that it was a large church. I must admit my brother and me were often rather bored with the church services. However that adherence to Christianity plus the later committed reinforcements of Christianity and principles by my grandmother, Mrs. Minnie Mae Guess which has been the foundation of my continued religious belief and practices in my adult life to the present. The picture of brother Don and me on the steps is in front of our residence at Vermont Ave.

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L-R, Don & Jack on Vermont Ave. N.W.

Henry (above) and Elnora were brothers and Sisters, and also Chicken (Male). Their mother was Georgia Howell. We(brother Don and me) met Georgia and Elnora, when we visited Goldsboro, N.C. Elnora married a guy named Crump. Helen and I corresponded with Elnora for many years afterwards. Rowena(Daddy’s mother) and his father were never married—all we knew about him that he was a high school teacher. Rowena spent time in the insane asylum in Goldsboro. Dan Adams Sr.(Called him Dandy Dan) had a night club in Rocky Mt. N.C. and was a disk jockey. Dan Adams had a son named Don Adams.

EARLY PICTURES OF JACK:

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