James B. Adams
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James Blackburn Adams (born December 21, 1926) was an attorney, Texas legislator, and former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
James B. Adams was born in Corsicana, Texas in 1926. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and returned to Texas to obtain a bachelor of arts degree and later a law degree from Baylor University. He then became a prosecuting attorney and legislator in Texas, resigning his seat in the state legislature to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation on July 9, 1951 as a Special Agent.
Adams served in Seattle, San Francisco, and the Administrative Services Division. In 1959 he was appointed Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Minneapolis and in 1972 he was promoted to Special Agent in Charge of San Antonio, Texas. In 1973 he was appointed Assistant Director of the Office of Planning and Evaluation and became Assistant to the Director/Deputy Associate Director for Investigations the following year.
In early 1977 FBI director Clarence M. Kelley announced his intention to retire and on September 30, 1977 President Jimmy Carter nominated U.S. District Court judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. to the post. However Johnson developed severe health problems and Carter withdrew the nomination in December. Eventually Carter settled upon William H. Webster and nominated him in January of 1978.
Adams served as Acting Director of the FBI from Kelley's retirement on February 15, 1978 to February 23 of the same year, when Webster was sworn in. Adams was then appointed to the number two position in the FBI, Associate Director, on April 6, 1978, retiring from the FBI on May 11, 1979. He then returned to Texas where he served in various law enforcement related positions until 1987.
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| Preceded by: Clarence M. Kelley |
Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 1978 |
Succeeded by: William H. Webster |
| Directors of the Federal Bureau of Investigation |  |
|---|---|
| Finch • Bielaski • Allen • Flynn • Burns • Hoover • Gray • Ruckelshaus • Kelley • Adams • Webster • Otto • Sessions • Clarke • Freeh • Pickard • Mueller |
