COLLEGE FOOTBALL OFFICIATING, LLC
COLLEGE FOOTBALL MOURNS THE PASSING OF JOHN ADAMS
College football officiating lost one of its finest when John Adams passed away
on June 21 at the age of 93. Best known nationally as the NCAA Secretary-Rules Editor,
Adams had a long career as an on-field official and conference coordinator. A native of
Denver, Adams was an All-Rocky Mountain Conference halfback at the University of
Denver where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He taught mathematics in the Denver
Public School system and also coached three sports. He began his college officiating
career in 1948 and worked on the field for twenty years in several conferences,
including the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and the Big Eight. Adams later served
as the coordinator of football officials for the WAC from 1968 until 1993.
A protégé of long-time secretary-rules editor David Nelson, Adams succeeded
him in that post when Nelson passed away in 1991. Adams remained in the position for
eighteen years, retiring in 2008. Among his many honors, he was the recipient of the
National Football Foundation Outstanding Football Official Award in 1993.
Beyond his accomplishments in officiating and rules editing, John Adams will
long be remembered as a true gentleman who loved the game and all associated with it.
He had a tremendous capacity for friendship. The game, the officiating community and
those of us who knew John are better because of him.
Rogers Redding
NCAA Secretary-Rules Editor
National Coordinator of Football Officials