Howard L. Adams, 71, of 1561 West 51, a former grand comander of the Grand Command, Knights Templar. State of New York, a retired assistant district manager of the Socony Mobil Oil Corporation, and a former deputy city court clerk with the traffic division, died yesterday in the Genesee Nursing Home.

He was born in Utica and attended its schools, graduating from Utica Free Academy.
Mr. Adams joined Socony Oil Co. in 1921, retiring with 38 years of service. During his time with company he served in real estate, sales marketing, accounting and operating capacities, and was the district marketing
assistant in charge of all retail activities for the company in the Utica district. Mr. Adams was appointed city court clerk in charge of the Traffic Violations Bureau in February 1962. He retired several years later.

He was a World War I veteran.

Mr. Adams was a member and past master of Faxton Lodge F&AM. He joined the lodge more than 30 years ago. He was also a member of the Mohawk Valley Consistory. He was active in York, Scottish and Cryptic Rite Masonary for many years, holding high office in many of them as well as concorant bodies. For more than 25 years he was a member of Ziyara Temple of the Shrine and was a representative to the Imperial Council in Florida in 1952. He was a past high priest of the Oneida Chapter, RAM and a past commander of Utica Commandery Knights Templer. He was trustee from 1936 to 1946. He was also vice president of the Past Commanders Association of the state. He joined the Rotica Council of Rome in 1936 and served as master from 1937 to 1939. He was recorder for the Council from 1942 to 1946 and from 1947 to 1955. He was an honorary member of the Southern Tier Council in Elmira and of the Hamburg Council in Hamburg. He was a member of the committee on by-laws of the Yahnundasis Bodies, and was a past patron of Imperial Court, Order of the Amaranth. Mr. Adams, an honoray member of Media Temple in Watertown, was a member of the Grand College of Rites of the U.S.A., a life member of the Masonic Order of the Bathand the Order of Corks, Allied Masonic Degree, and received the Royal Order of Scotland in Boston, Mass. in 1954. He was a life member, of the Masonic Veterans Association of Albany, a member of the Royal Order of Jesters, Utica Court, and a former incorporating trustee of the Masonic Temple Association of Utica and a past secretary of that group. He was a past monarch and past trustee of Zeba Grotto of Rome. Mr. Adams was elected to the office of grand commander of the Grand Command, Knights Templar in Brooklyn in 1964. It was the first time a Utican had held the post in 78 years. Besides his Masonic affiliations, Mr. Adams was a member of the Central Methodist Church, the Cedar Lake Club, the City Club, the Black River Valley Club of Utica, and the past president of Hubert Castle Tent Circus Fans of America. He was a member of the Utica lodge of Elks, and served on it's community welfare commitee for many years. He was a member of Engine 11 in Utica. During World War I, Mr. Adams served with the New York National Guard. During World War II he was a member of the Auxilary Police and County Steriff's Department. He had been chairman of the disaster committee and, survey committee of the American Red Cross. He was also a member of the Earle F. Sherman Garrison Army and Navy Union.

Besides his wife, the former Thelma L. Casterliene of Utica, he leaves a daughter, Miss Carolyn J. Adams of Utica, and a son, Donald L. Adams, Jersey City, N.J.

The funeral will be Thursday at the convenience of the family from the Williams Funeral Home. Burial will be in Prospect Cemetery. Calling hours are from 7 to 9 tonight. Faxton Lodge will conduct services at 7:30 tonight in the funeral home. Utica Observer Utica, Wednesday, Feb 16, 1972