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Delaware Senate Leader Dies at 80

BRIDGEVILLE, Del. (WBOC/AP)- Thurman Adams Jr., a veteran lawmaker and leader of the Delaware state Senate, died Tuesday of pancreatic cancer, Senate officials said. He was 80.

Adams, a lifelong Bridgeville resident and agribusinessman first elected to the Senate in 1972, died at Kent General Hospital in Dover, where he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer after entering the hospital for tests on June 16.

Adams was a leader among conservative Democrats in the Senate, where he served longer than any other lawmaker in state history. His easygoing, polite demeanor belied a political power that often frustrated opponents, especially those pushing liberal social issues. He was known for assigning bills he disliked to committees where he knew they would languish and die, a practice opponents decried as the "desk drawer veto."

Adams, a graduate of the University of Delaware, owned and operated T.G. Adams & Sons, a feed and grain business founded by his father. He was a strong supporter of agriculture throughout his career.

"He really loved the people of Delaware, his hobby was public service," Adams' surviving family members said in a statement. "The day before he died, he talked to us about getting a bill ready for the governor to sign, dealing with the state fair. People need to know he was more than a politician, he was a tremendous father, a wonderful grandfather and great-grandfather, and an incredible friend."

Adams served on the state highway commission from 1961 to 1970 and chaired the governor's safety committee from 1966 to 1969. He was named Senate majority leader in 1999 and became president pro tem in 2003.

Democrat U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, who worked with Adams while governor, said, "This is a very sad day for Delaware. A longtime friend, a lifelong servant of the people, and a Sussex County icon, Thurman Adams will be sorely missed."

"Whether you agreed with Thurman's politics or not, you respected him. Delaware is a far better place in which to live and work because of Thurman Adams, his stewardship and his steadfast leadership," Carper said.

Delaware's other U.S. senator, Democrat Ted Kaufman said he had been friends with Adams since 1972 when he and Vice President Joe Biden were running for office for the first time.

Kaufman said he last spoke with Adams on Monday and noted that it was a "final conversation in 37 years of a friendship that I treasured and will sorely miss."

"Over his long and storied career, Thurman built a legendary reputation from all sides. Whatever was said about him, no one ever doubted Thurman's commitment to the people of Delaware. He always did what he thought was the right thing for our state. It is a sad day for Delaware," Kaufman said.

Republican U.S. Rep. Michael Castle, who worked with Adams as both a fellow legislator and governor, described him as "a strong and trusted leader" who always worked "to achieve the greater good for Delaware."

"His word was his bond, and I was able to confide in him many times over the years," Castle said.

Gov. Jack Markell said, "Delaware lost one of its most respected and dedicated leaders today. My thoughts and prayers are with Senator Adams' family during this difficult time. I want to thank them for sharing Senator Adams with Delaware for so many years as the state is better off as a result of his decades of service.

"Senator Adams dedicated most of his life to serving the public and there has not been a law passed in the last 30 years that he did not touch in some way. His legacy will be felt for generations."

Delaware Democratic Party Chair John D. Daniello said he was "stunned and saddened" to learn of Adams' death. He described Adams as a "dedicated public servant."

"He has been a tireless advocate for his district, for Sussex County, and for Delaware," Daniello said. "On behalf of the Democratic Party of Delaware, I offer my condolences. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today." 

Some state lawmakers also issued statements on Adams' passing. House Minority Leader Richard Cathcart, R-Middletown, said, "Sen. Adams was more than just a legislator, he was the embodiment of Sussex County: conservative, reserved, and always a gentleman.  Another legislator will be selected to serve in the role of Senate President Pro Tem, but there will never be a replacement for Thurman."

House Minority Whip Rep. Daniel Short, R-Seaford,  said, "Thurman Adams not only represented his district well in Dover, he was also representative of it, bringing with him the down-to-earth values that are common of the people in western Sussex.  His constituents have lost more than a local official.  They've lost a good friend and neighbor."

Among the legislation for which Adams is best known was a bill in the late 1980s authorizing the development of an enhanced 911 communications system, which allows authorities to trace the origin of an incoming emergency call. The legislation reportedly was prompted by an incident in which a 5-year-old girl called 911 after her parents had been shot to death but was unable to tell authorities where she lived.

Adams also was known for legislation allowing motorists to turn right on red lights after stopping at intersections, and a bill allowing citizens to mail in fines and fees instead of having to travel to state offices to pay them in person.