In the middle of the eleventh grade school year, I moved from Akron, OH and during my first day at Decatur High School, I met John Adams in the Home Room I was assigned to.
John was the only person in my memory whose name was not only called first, when the attendance roll was taken, but before mine !
But what I remember most in the beginning was John liked reading from the Bible when the Morning Prayer was asked to be read by a volunteer, a lost tradition no longer allowed in Public Schools.
John’s selections always gave me pause at a time in my life where care was blowing in the wind. I can still remember him performing this ritual with a deep voice that seemed to naturally belong to a nice looking, friendly, big guy.
John and I became friends and during Memorial Day weekend that first year, we drove to Indinapolis with another school chum in my ‘Mother’s’ stick shift Oldsmobile, to be apart of the Indy 500 and I’ve always wondered how we managed to survive the trip.
The last time I saw John was during the 30th Class Reunion in ‘89’ . I remember we stood in the corner of the large room where we had all gathered for dinner and looked over the crowd and marveled at how old everyone else looked and how we had stayed the same :)
Best to you Big John, I’ll be looking for you in the near future.
John Q. was 56 years old when he passed away. He lived in Mariposa, Calif. and was buried there. He was a retired insurance salesman.
He was survived by his wife Sandra and four daughters.
John Quincey was a gentleman. We doubled dated a good bit together. We had alot of fun. He would keep you laughing, but he was a very nice young man. We were not together but with other people. You all remember what double dating means. Right!!
The last time I talked to him he was the same way. Very friendly and always a gentleman. That was in 1989 the reunion at the Holiday Inn. It was great to see him again.
when I moved to Decatur three months into my senior year, John was the first one to come and visit and welcome me to DHS. I was very shy then, and I really appreciated the fact that he took the time to come over to our house and make me feel welcome. He would come over often, and we would sit on the front porch and talk about things. He was such a great guy, always impeccable in his appearance, and always smelled like Old Spice, with that wavy brown hair neatly combed. Probably today, he would have been described as a nerd. I sure thought the world of him. There is no doubt in my mind that when I get to the pearly gates, John will be there to greet me, and show me around so I don't feel like a stranger!
At DHS,John Adams was a big kid with a big heart. As seniors, we both had after school jobs and were allowed to leave after 5th period at about 2:30. I worked at Elmore's on 2nd Avenue(where I made a whopping 45 cents an hour, and was glad to get it), but I don't remember where John worked-- maybe some place over in "Old Decatur." When released, not having a car, I would walk to Elmore's, rain or shine. One day John saw me walking and offered me a ride, which I gladly accepted. As we talked John realized that we went generally the same way at the same time every day and offered to let me ride with him every day, another offer I cheerfuly accepted. I don't know if I had the good manners to offer John gas money once in a while or not(probably not)but I'm sure he would not have accepted. That's just the kind of guy he was.
What a great guy John Adams was! The last time we spoke, he mentioned living in his California ranch! I remember thinking, that sounds just like him! I, also, thought, good for him! He was made for that!
Bob Agee
John Adams:In the middle of the eleventh grade school year, I moved from Akron, OH and during my first day at Decatur High School, I met John Adams in the Home Room I was assigned to.
John was the only person in my memory whose name was not only called first, when the attendance roll was taken, but before mine !
But what I remember most in the beginning was John liked reading from the Bible when the Morning Prayer was asked to be read by a volunteer, a lost tradition no longer allowed in Public Schools.
John’s selections always gave me pause at a time in my life where care was blowing in the wind. I can still remember him performing this ritual with a deep voice that seemed to naturally belong to a nice looking, friendly, big guy.
John and I became friends and during Memorial Day weekend that first year, we drove to Indinapolis with another school chum in my ‘Mother’s’ stick shift Oldsmobile, to be apart of the Indy 500 and I’ve always wondered how we managed to survive the trip.
The last time I saw John was during the 30th Class Reunion in ‘89’ . I remember we stood in the corner of the large room where we had all gathered for dinner and looked over the crowd and marveled at how old everyone else looked and how we had stayed the same :)
Best to you Big John, I’ll be looking for you in the near future.
Bob Agee
2nd Posting 9.29.08
Pattie Craig (Jett)
John Q. was 56 years old when he passed away. He lived in Mariposa, Calif. and was buried there. He was a retired insurance salesman.He was survived by his wife Sandra and four daughters.
John Quincey was a gentleman. We doubled dated a good bit together. We had alot of fun. He would keep you laughing, but he was a very nice young man. We were not together but with other people. You all remember what double dating means. Right!!
The last time I talked to him he was the same way. Very friendly and always a gentleman. That was in 1989 the reunion at the Holiday Inn. It was great to see him again.
Sandi Slape (Crane)
when I moved to Decatur three months into my senior year, John was the first one to come and visit and welcome me to DHS. I was very shy then, and I really appreciated the fact that he took the time to come over to our house and make me feel welcome. He would come over often, and we would sit on the front porch and talk about things. He was such a great guy, always impeccable in his appearance, and always smelled like Old Spice, with that wavy brown hair neatly combed. Probably today, he would have been described as a nerd. I sure thought the world of him. There is no doubt in my mind that when I get to the pearly gates, John will be there to greet me, and show me around so I don't feel like a stranger!
Richard Allen
At DHS,John Adams was a big kid with a big heart. As seniors, we both had after school jobs and were allowed to leave after 5th period at about 2:30. I worked at Elmore's on 2nd Avenue(where I made a whopping 45 cents an hour, and was glad to get it), but I don't remember where John worked-- maybe some place over in "Old Decatur." When released, not having a car, I would walk to Elmore's, rain or shine. One day John saw me walking and offered me a ride, which I gladly accepted. As we talked John realized that we went generally the same way at the same time every day and offered to let me ride with him every day, another offer I cheerfuly accepted. I don't know if I had the good manners to offer John gas money once in a while or not(probably not)but I'm sure he would not have accepted. That's just the kind of guy he was.Jim Burden
John and i had homeroom together. John as a really nice guy. I remember he had the most perfect complection, always had those rosy cheeks.I often wondered what happened to John Quincy Adams, my friend.
Bob Thomas
Mary Jean Fennell (Williams)
What a great guy John Adams was! The last time we spoke, he mentioned living in his California ranch! I remember thinking, that sounds just like him! I, also, thought, good for him! He was made for that!