COURIER-JOURNAL OBITUARY - 8/20/2011 - HOPKINSVILLE - Adams, John William, 75, of Hopkinsville, KY, died Thursday morning August 18, 2011 at his residence. A native of Christian County, KY, he was born June 29, 1936, the son of the late Ben S. Adams, former Kentucky State Senator and Commissioner of Agriculture and Mildred Stone Adams. He was a graduate of Hopkinsville High School and earned a masters degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Kentucky. He was a member and past president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, social fraternity. He was in the United States Air Force stationed at Kincheloe Air Force Base in Michigan. He returned to Hopkinsville in 1964, where he was the first person hired at the Hopkinsville Community College where he served as a financial officer. In 1968, he became the first Executive Director of the Pennyrile Area Development District, a position he held until he retired in 1993. In 1996 he ran and was elected to the 8th District Seat in the Kentucky State Legislature, a seat which he held for eight years. He was a member and elder at First Christian Church. He was also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Hopkinsville and the Hopkinsville Christian County Chamber of Commerce. Survivors include his wife, Mary Helen Jenkins Adams; two sons, John Lindsey Adams (Melissa) of Hopkinsville, KY and Dr. William Jenkins Adams of Fort Lauderdale, FL; his sister, Peggy Adams Schlictman of Fort Lauderdale, FL; three grandchildren; and four nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be noon on Saturday, August 20, 2011 at Riverside Cemetery with the Rev. Nathan C. Brown and Rev. Paige S. Williams officiating. Visitation will be 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at Hughart & Beard Funeral Home in Hopkinsville. Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church 2601 South Walnut Street, Hopkinsville, KY 42240 or to the giver's favorite charity.