Thomas Burton Adams, Jr.

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 J.H. Williams
15th Secretary of State of Florida
In office
January 5, 1961 – January 5, 1971
Preceded by Robert Andrew Gray
Succeeded by Richard B. Stone
Personal details
Born March 11, 1917
Jacksonville, Florida
Died May 22, 2006 (aged 89)
Live Oak, Florida
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Helen Brown 1939-2006
Alma mater University of Michigan
Profession Real estate and insurance business

Thomas Burton "Tom" Adams, Jr. (March 11, 1917 – May 22, 2006) was an American politician from the U.S. state of Florida. A Democrat, he served in the Florida Senate (1956–1960), as Secretary of State of Florida (1961–1971), and as the tenth Lieutenant Governor of Florida (1971–1975).

Early life

Adams was born in Jacksonville, Florida to Thomas Burton Adams, Sr., and the former Carolyn Hamilton. He attended the University 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, where he served from 1956 to 1960. He then served for ten years as Secretary of State of Florida (1961–1971) and as Lieutenant Governor of Florida (1971–1975. In 1970, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Reubin O'Donovan Askew selected Adams as his running mate for Lieutenant Governor of Florida (1971–1975). Askew and Adams defeated incumbent Republicans Governor Claude Roy Kirk and Lieutenant Governor Ray C. Osborne. Adams was the second Lieutenant Governor following the position's reinstatement after over 80 years. He was the first Democrat to hold this position under the 1968 Constitution.

Though Adams was relied upon as a seasoned Florida political veteran in the 1970 gubernatorial race, he quickly became a liability over the course of his term. Askew, acting on the recommendation of noted political adviser Michael G. Kimber, appointed him state Secretary of Commerce, but he ran into ethical problems in 1973 when it was discovered that, in debt, he was leasing a 1,000-acre (4.0 km2) farm in Quincy, Florida, and was using a department employee to manage it on government time. He was forced to repay $1,736 to the state and was censured by a legislative committee in lieu of impeachment. The scandal was a primary reason that he was dropped from the ticket by Askew in favor of Jim Williams in Askew's successful 1974 re-election campaign.

Adams briefly tried to make a political comeback in 1984 when he ran for a state Senate seat, but he was trounced by Republican Tim Deratany by a margin of more than 2-1.

Adams, a Baptist, was a member of Newcomen Society, Rotary Club, Alpha Kappa Psi and Phi Delta Theta.

Death

Adams was killed in a crash on Interstate 10 at the Suwannee County-Columbia County border at about 2:50 pm on May 22, 2006. His 19-year-old son Thomas Burton Adams III was also in the 2004 Ford 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 Suwannee county seat. Adams did not have on his seat belt when the crash occurred.

Governor Jeb Bush ordered that all government buildings be flown at half-staff in Adams' honor.

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Political offices
Preceded by
Ray C. Osborne		 Lieutenant Governor of Florida
1971-1975 		Succeeded by
J. H. Williams