Thomas Burton Adams Jr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 10th Lieutenant Governor of Florida | |
| In office January 5, 1971 – January 7, 1975 | |
| Governor | Reubin O'Donovan Askew |
| Preceded by | Ray C. Osborn |
| Succeeded by | Jim Williams |
| 15th Secretary of State of Florida | |
| In office January 5, 1961 – January 5, 1971 | |
| Governor | C. Farris Bryant W. Haydon Burns Claude R. Kirk Jr. |
| Preceded by | Robert Andrew Gray |
| Succeeded by | Richard B. Stone |
| Member of theFlorida Senate from the 29th district | |
| In office November 6, 1956 – November 8, 1960 | |
| Preceded by | Edwin G. Fraser |
| Succeeded by | Edwin G. Fraser |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1917-03-11)March 11, 1917 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | May 22, 2006(2006-05-22) (aged 89) Live Oak, Florida, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Profession | Real estate and insurance business |
Thomas Burton Adams Jr. (March 11, 1917 – May 22, 2006) was an Americanpolitician from the U.S. state of Florida. ADemocrat, he served in theFlorida Senate (1956–1960), asSecretary of State of Florida (1961–1971), and as thetenth Lieutenant Governor of Florida (1971–1975).
Adams was born inJacksonville, Florida to Thomas Burton Adams Sr. and the former Carolyn Hamilton. He attended theUniversity of Michigan. Adams married Helen Brown on July 30, 1939, and had a career as a real estate developer and an insurance businessman. Adams married Frances Sue Brewer in September 1973.
Adams began his political career when he was elected to the Florida State Senate in 1956 from the 29th district, encompassingClay andBaker Counties.[1] He served one term before being elected secretary of state in 1960, a position to which he was reelected in 1964 and 1966.
In 1970, Democratic gubernatorial nomineeReubin Askew selected Adams as hisrunning mate. Askew and Adams defeated incumbentRepublicans GovernorClaude Roy Kirk and Lieutenant GovernorRay C. Osborne. Adams was the second lieutenant governor following the position's reinstatement after over 80 years. He was the first Democrat to hold the position under the1968 Constitution.
Though Adams was relied upon in the 1970 gubernatorial race as a seasoned Florida political veteran, he quickly became a liability over the course of his term. Askew, acting on the recommendation of political adviser Michael G. Kimber, appointed him state Secretary of Commerce, but Adams ran into ethical problems in 1973 when it was discovered that, in debt, he was leasing a 1,000-acre (4.0 km2) farm inQuincy, Florida, and was using a department employee to manage it on government time. He was forced to repay $1,736 to the state and wascensured by a legislative committee in lieu of impeachment. The scandal was the primary reason he was dropped from the 1974 ticket in favor ofJim Williams, who succeeded Adams as lieutenant governor after the Askew-Williams ticket's successful election.[2]
Adams became theNASCAR National Commissioner in 1971.[3]
Adams briefly tried to make a political comeback in 1984 when he ran in a special election for a state senate seat, but he was trounced by Republican Tim Deratany by a margin of more than 2–1.[4]
Adams, aBaptist, was a member ofNewcomen Society,Rotary Club,Alpha Kappa Psi andPhi Delta Theta.
Adams was killed in a crash onInterstate 10 at theSuwannee County-Columbia County border at about 2:50 pm on May 22, 2006. His 18-year-old son Thomas Burton Adams III was also in the 2004Ford Explorer Sport Trac that Adams was driving at the time of the crash and was seriously injured. The accident occurred about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Live Oak, the Suwanneecounty seat. Adams did not have on hisseat belt when the crash occurred. GovernorJeb Bush ordered that all government buildings be flown athalf-staff in Adams' honor.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forSecretary of State of Florida 1960, 1964, 1966 | Succeeded by |
| First | Democratic nominee forLieutenant Governor of Florida 1970 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Secretary of State of Florida 1961–1971 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Florida 1971–1975 | Succeeded by |
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* acting | ||
| Territory(1822–45) | | |
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| State(since 1845) | ||