MORNING STAR • july 2 - 8, 2009
PAGE 51
Final thoughts about a great leader
It was sometime in early 1972 when Ms. Mary Truitt, a Democrat committee woman from Bridgeville, came into my shoe repair shop with a bag of shoes to be repaired for her and her husband Leroy. She had an exciting announcement. “We have a good man to run for the Senate seat and he’s going to win,” she said, trying to contain her enthusiasm. The name she presented was Thurman Adams Jr. Although she went on to explain his qualifications, I knew him and his wife Hilda as customers. Hilda was my brother’s second grade teacher. And a good choice he was right up to his sudden passing last week. He served as the powerful Senate president pro tempore. I often referred to him as “The Godfather” after watching lobbyists who wanted bills passed and citizens with problems march into his office to take advantage of his ability to make things happen. If he felt you were a good person and were being dealt a bad hand, he stuck with you. Even away from Legislative Hall his office at the feed mill was open in the early hours of the morning for anyone who wanted to speak with him. He was an honest man from a working class family who never forgot the plight of the working person and represented them with every vote he took. “The Boss,” as some of us affectionately referred to him, was a person of action. When he wanted something done, it got done. When I was nominated by Governor Minner as State Election Commissioner, I went to the senator to ask for his blessings and advice, as I had in the past so many times. As chair of the executive committee, if you didn’t get his approval (even if you were the governor’s choice) you may as well hang it up. Lucky for me I didn’t have that problem. As it was, the office was vacant and the senator wanted it filled ASAP for reasons I shall not mention now, but perhaps in my memoirs. Some senators wanted to delay my nomination until later in the week, but he was emphatic with a resounding “No, we’ll do it today.” Now this is no simple feat. First there is a hearing with the Senate Executive Committee, questions are asked, and then you need their approval. Next is bringing up your name for a vote before the full Senate, and then the successful candidate usually holds a swearing in ceremony later in the week.
Well, because of the senator’s insistence, I appeared before the Executive Committee, was voted on by the full Senate, rushed up to the governor’s office and was sworn in with the governor holding the Bible in less than an hour. Senator Adams was unfairly criticized by the media and the goody two shoes about his desk door veto (keeping unpopular bills from reaching the Senate floor for a vote) method of holding bills from being introduced and by those wanting to know everything government did. Some of those bills were not good for Sussex County and there are meetings that simply must be held behind closed doors. He did not abuse his power; he did what he felt was best for Sussex County. At times he was regarded as old fashioned, but he was honest, respected, a conservative, a politician with passion and one whose word was his bond, a trait missing in government today. His legislation was important to Delawareans. I recall writing an article for the Banner about something I read in Reader’s Digest on how an enhanced 911 system saved lives. He said he liked that idea and shortly thereafter passed the bill which saved the life of a kidnapped woman in Delaware who called 911. You have seen the end of power for Sussex County. We will never see another senator from this county in a position of authority. The top three leadership posts in the Senate were filled the day after the senator’s passing, all with New Castle Countians, even though two Sussex Senators, George Bunting and Bob Venables, have more seniority. Gone are the political appointments of good cabinet posts, commission positions and judgeships. Senator Venables has his position as Bond chairman because of Adams and Sussex projects were able to share in the bond monies, but Venables will find a new ball game now. Worst of all we have lost a great friend who gave his all for Delaware. We are a better county and state because of him. A huge thank you to his family for sharing him with us. Frank Calio Laurel
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