Influential supporter, close friend dies Friday

A strong supporter of Liberty University Charles Dean “Boe” Adams, 76, died Wednesday, Oct. 27, at the Advanced Care Hospital of White County in Searcy.

Boe donated $1 million to Liberty in 1990 for the purpose of constructing the Vines Center. The center received its name in memory of his wife’s parents, Myrna Vines Adams. A portrait of her parents is portrayed at the entrance of the Vines Center, according to Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr.

“Boe Adams was a business partner of Arthur L. Williams Jr. The Williams family has contributed more to Liberty University than any other in our history,” Falwell said. “Boe first visited Liberty in 1990 when he and his team of financial experts helped Liberty build a management structure and financing plan that laid the foundation for the prosperity Liberty is now enjoying.”

Born in El Paso, Ark., he graduated in 1954 from Leachville High School. Four years later, he received a Bachelor of Science from Arkansas Polytechnic College, 1958.

Later he served this country in the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant before receiving another assignment to West Point Academy. Here, he held the position of instructor for various sporting activities.

With a love of sports, Adams also acted as an assistant coach for the 1960 Gold Medal Olympic basketball team. He even coached the first basketball team in Little Rock to be integrated.

“I worked day to day with Boe and his team in the early 90s and what I learned from Boe about business and finance helped me develop a philosophy of management that I still use every day,” Falwell said. “Boe was frank and to the point. He didn’t sugarcoat anything.”

As a highly successful businessman, Adams co-founded the A.L. Williams Insurance Company in 1978. Adams also successfully built the Adams Land Company in 1985.

“The first thing he did for us was force us to face the realities of what could and would happen to Liberty if we were not willing to make hard decisions and run the university like a business,” Falwell said.

“Boe was not only a major donor to Liberty. He took the time to teach us what he had learned running a major insurance company that is now part of Citigroup,” Falwell said.

“When Boe returned to Liberty in 2006 to be honored at a basketball game, he was amazed at how much detail I remembered about what his team had taught us so many years before,” Falwell said. “We will always be grateful for Boe Adams’ investment of time and resources in Liberty University.”

Leachville First Baptist Church held his funeral service 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30.