Howland K. “Bud” Adams, Jr. made his heavenly journey on April 19, 2023. Born in Mt. Kisco, New York on July 27, 1930, he passed shy of his 93rd birthday but was proud to tell anyone within earshot that he was “going to be 93”.
Raised on a dairy farm in Westchester County, New York, he left his farming roots behind to pursue a Master’s Degree in Metallurgical Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. This degree led to his long career at General Electric and Knolls Atomic Power Lab in Schenectady, New York. Bud married and raised a family during this time but never gave up on the idea of returning to farming. Eventually, he left behind the 9 to 5 world, got his CDL, and found that the life of a long-haul trucker afforded him the opportunity to return to working the land. When his youngest son Daniel entered the competitive sport of Biathlon, Bud used his skills and his equipment to carve out a complete Biathlon course in the forested foothills of the Adirondacks. To this day, the Saratoga Biathlon Club practices and competes on the course named in his honor: The Howland “Bud” Adams Range at Saratoga.
Health issues necessitated his move to Walnut Grove (Savannah), Tennessee in 2018. Under the watchful eyes of his daughters, he nurtured his passion for the restoration of the American Chestnut tree. He proudly spearheaded a local group to carry on that mission. An article about Bud’s efforts was published in the December 24, 2020 edition of The Courier.
Bud is predeceased by his parents, Howland K. Adams, Sr. and Annette Bloomer Adams, his brother, J. Harvey Adams, and his wife, Sally McCune Adams. He is survived by his four children: Howland K. (Scott) Adams, III of Malta, New York; Nancy Adams (husband Tom Novellino) of Savannah, Tennessee; Janet Wright (husband Lee Wright) of Savannah, Tennessee; and Daniel M. Adams (wife Lisa Reasoner Adams) of Hampton, Georgia. Surviving grandchildren are: Taylor Wright Hammock (husband Eric Hammock) of Counce, Tennessee; Robert Wallace Wright (wife Molly Casteel Wright) of Savannah, Tennessee; Christopher Adams of Hampton, Georgia; Daniel M. Adams, Jr. (wife Hannah Turner Adams) of Bellevue, Washington; Ashley Adams, Hampton, Georgia; Bridger Adams of Bellevue, Washington; and Harrison Adams of Bellevue, Washington. He is survived by two great grandchildren: Avery Alane Wright and Addie Jo Wright, both of Savannah, Tennessee.
Memorial donations may be made in his name to:
The American Chestnut Foundation
50 North Merrimon Ave. Suite 115
Asheville, North Carolina 28804
Services to be scheduled at a future date in South Salem, New York.
