[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 23, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S3161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE THURMAN G. ADAMS, JR.

 Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, on May 3, 2002, the Delaware State 
Bar Association will present its prestigious Liberty Bell Award to 
Thurman G. Adams, Jr.
  I could introduce Thurman Adams to my colleagues in any number of 
ways, he is the dean of the Delaware State Senate, the majority leader, 
and by the time his current term ends, he will have served longer than 
any Delaware State Senator in history. And Delaware has a long history.
  Senator Adams has served on and, in fact, chaired virtually every 
major committee, including 25 years-and-counting as chairman of the 
Executive Committee, current chairmanship of the Banking Committee, 
past chairmanship of the Agriculture Committee, and current service on 
the Judiciary, Administrative Services, Permanent Rules and Ethics 
Committees, as well as his role in the Senate leadership.
  I could also introduce Thurman Adams as, in many ways, the 
quintessential Delawarean, I should add Sussex Countian, and I can 
pinpoint it even more to his beloved town of Bridgeville.
  Like his father, Thurman was born on the family farm on the road now 
known as Adams Road. His grandson lives there now, and runs the farming 
operations day-to-day. Thurman graduated from Bridgeville High School, 
and then from the University of Delaware. After college, he joined the 
family feed, grain and farm business, T.G. Adams & Sons, which he now 
serves as president.
  So, I could introduce Thurman Adams as one of the longest serving and 
most influential leaders of our State. I could introduce him as 
representing the great tradition of Delaware agriculture, Delaware 
towns, Delaware small business and Delaware families.
  I also have the very great privilege of being able to introduce 
Thurman Adams as my friend, a friend I deeply admire as a man of his 
word, a man of conviction, a man of values and of principle.
  And in a much higher tribute to him, I could introduce Thurman as the 
husband of one of the truly great ladies I have met in my life, Hilda 
McCabe Adams.
  I have been with Hilda and Thurman Adams in times of victory and 
celebration, and I have been with them in times of tragedy and loss. In 
every circumstance, they have been the definition of class, and they 
have more integrity in their little fingers than most of us will be 
able to summon in our lifetimes.
  Their journey together has been inspiring to those of us who are 
lucky enough to be around them, but it has not always been easy. They 
endured the loss of an infant grandchild, and then tragically in May of 
2000, the death of that baby's father, their son, Brent McCabe Adams, 
Sr., at the age of 45. And now they are facing, with characteristic 
strength and courage, a serious illness for Hilda.
  In honoring Thurman Adams, the Delaware Bar Association will, 
rightly, pay tribute to his decades of service to our State, his 
particular contribution as a leader on the Judiciary Committee, and his 
role in leading the Senate confirmation process, never as a mere matter 
of procedure, but thoughtfully and skillfully, for so many members of 
the Bar, and other Delawareans, who have been appointed to positions 
within our State government.
  For my part, I would like to pay tribute to Thurman and Hilda Adams 
as, simply, exceptional and inspiring human beings, the best of 
citizens, the best of neighbors, and the best friends anyone could ask 
for. They just don't make them like Hilda and Thurman very often. We in 
Delaware are very lucky.

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