Obituaries

Travis Martin Adams

Photo of Travis Martin Adams Photo of Travis Martin Adams
Travis Martin Adams, 82, of Russellville, passed away on September 4, 2016 at Briarwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Little Rock. The son of Charles Kelley and Chlorine Ross Adams, Travis was born on November 25, 1933 in Warren. Prior to graduation from Warren High School in 1951 as valedictorian, he was President of the Junior Class, Vice-President of the Student Council and Vice-President of the Senior Class. Upon high school graduation, he enrolled at Arkansas Tech University (then Arkansas Polytechnic College) and began an active student career. He was a cheerleader and elected to the Student Council as a freshman. He was student body president as a sophomore and later president of Blue Key, History Club and the Senior Class. He was commander of the Military Honor Society and sports editor of the yearbook while functioning as a statistician for all men's sports. He graduated with high honors in 1955 with a major in History and minor in Political Science. After marrying his Tech sweetheart, Lou VanDover, Travis studied for a year at King's College of Cambridge University in England on a Rotary Foundation Scholarship. After service in the Army as an Aerial Photographic Interpreter, Travis returned to his studies at Vanderbilt University in 1958. He became the first president of the Vanderbilt Graduate Student Council and served on the Vanderbilt Self-Study Committee. He earned an M.A. at Vanderbilt in 1962 and was admitted to their doctoral program in American History. After working as Assistant Director of the Education Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, Travis came back to ATU in 1966 as Assistant to Dean Alfred Crabaugh and Assistant Professor of History. Before his retirement 31 years later, he was Assistant Academic Dean, Associate Academic Dean, Associate Professor of History, Vice President for Student Affairs and Executive Assistant to the President. Travis enjoyed contributing to the community. He served on the Pope County Quorum Court, the first Community Chest committee, the Russellville School and Community Health and Safety Council, and on the Board of Counseling Associates, where he served for 18 years, including two terms as board president. He served 6 years on the Arkansas Community Mental Health Advisory Board and was Chairman of the Board for three years. He chaired the Advisory Council for the Arkansas Comprehensive Mental Health Plan, and was also active in the Russellville Chamber of Commerce and the First United Methodist Church where he routinely taught Sunday school for the Carden Class. One of his greatest passions was his membership in the Russellville Rotary Club since 1967. He was District Governor and chaired the District Rotary Foundation Committee. He was chair of the Rotary Foundation District Awards Sub-Committee and served on several worldwide committees of Rotary International, including chairing the Publications Committee. He co-chaired three joint district Rotary Foundation Seminars as well. The Rotary Foundation Trustees presented Travis the Citation for Meritorious Service in 1992 and the Distinguished Service Award in 1995. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife of 59 years, Lou. He is survived by his son, Andy Adams (Chanda) of Little Rock; two grandchildren, (Maggie and Emma); daughter, Anna Adams of Shawnee, Kan.; two older brothers and one younger sister. The funeral service will be on Friday, September 9, 2016, at 10 a.m. at Russellville First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Gail Brooks and the Rev. Roy Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Sandlin Cemetery near Ola, under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Susan Adams Memorial Scholarship Fund at ATU-Office of Development, 1509 N Boulder Ave., ADM 209, Russellville, Ark. 72801 or to the Carden Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church, 304 South Commerce Avenue, Russellville, Ark. 72801. The online obituary and guestbook are available at www.shinnfuneral.com.

Published September 7, 2016

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