From The Times-Tribune, (Scranton, PA), December 3, 1965:
Lynn George Adams, 85, former Dunmorean who became one of Pennsylvania's first state policemen in 1905 and rose to head that organization and superintendent and then commissioner for more than 20 years, died yesterday in the Muncy Valley Hospital in Sullivan County.
Mr. Adams who retired in 1943, resided in later years in Muncy Valley, PA. He died during the year that the police force of which he was an original member is observing its 60th anniversary as the oldest state constabulary in the nation. Adams was known as a "hard boiled" cop who made police work his career after Army service during the Spanish American War, the Philippine Insurrection and World War I. He also served during World War II.
Pioneering seemed to be in his make-up for he not only was in charge of the state police when several innovations were made but he also was one of this country's first scoutmasters. Throughout his life he remained active in Boy Scout affairs.
Lynn was born July 8, 1880, in Hop Bottom, PA, (Susquehanna County), and spent his boyhood in Dunmore. After attending Dunmore public schools he entered Scranton Central High School but left school in 1898 to enlist for service in the Spanish-American War.
He was named state police commissioner in 1920 and resigned in 1937 after the state police and state highway patrol were merged by the late Gov. George H. Earle. When Arthur H. James became governor in 1939, Adams again was named commissioner and held the post until his retirement in 1943.
During his tenure, several "firsts" were established, including the first training school for troopers, the first identification bureau and the first statewide teletype system in the country.
After his military service, he was assigned to Troop D at Butler. In January 1920, he was named deputy superintendent, (now deputy commissioner), of the force and superintendent in March of the same year.
Mr. Adams death came at a time when the present state police force, numbering 2,285, is seeking 300 additional men each year for the next five years. At one time, Adams had difficulty getting the state administration to fill out his force to its authorized complement of 830.
He had his own opinions and methods of combating crime and did not hesitate to voice them, one of them being, "When people in a democracy lose all respect for its laws and officials, the democracy is in danger and the next step in anarchy."
Lynn's wife of 59 years, the former Gertrude Matthews of Dunmore, died last February. They were married in 1906 in Dunmore, PA.
Mr. Adams was a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Military Order of World Wars, American Legion, the Shrine and the Sojourners. He was also a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and commissioner emeritus of the Keystone Area Boy Scouts.
Survivors include his daughter, Mrs. Ruth, (Nicholas), Adams Schilling, Scardsdale, NY; son, Donald W. Adams, Bryn Mawr, PA; and two brothers Harold Adams, CA and Stanley Adams, OH.
Funeral service at Snowdon Funeral Home, Dunmore, with interment to follow in Dunmore Cemetery.
Lynn George Adams, 85, former Dunmorean who became one of Pennsylvania's first state policemen in 1905 and rose to head that organization and superintendent and then commissioner for more than 20 years, died yesterday in the Muncy Valley Hospital in Sullivan County.
Mr. Adams who retired in 1943, resided in later years in Muncy Valley, PA. He died during the year that the police force of which he was an original member is observing its 60th anniversary as the oldest state constabulary in the nation. Adams was known as a "hard boiled" cop who made police work his career after Army service during the Spanish American War, the Philippine Insurrection and World War I. He also served during World War II.
Pioneering seemed to be in his make-up for he not only was in charge of the state police when several innovations were made but he also was one of this country's first scoutmasters. Throughout his life he remained active in Boy Scout affairs.
Lynn was born July 8, 1880, in Hop Bottom, PA, (Susquehanna County), and spent his boyhood in Dunmore. After attending Dunmore public schools he entered Scranton Central High School but left school in 1898 to enlist for service in the Spanish-American War.
He was named state police commissioner in 1920 and resigned in 1937 after the state police and state highway patrol were merged by the late Gov. George H. Earle. When Arthur H. James became governor in 1939, Adams again was named commissioner and held the post until his retirement in 1943.
During his tenure, several "firsts" were established, including the first training school for troopers, the first identification bureau and the first statewide teletype system in the country.
After his military service, he was assigned to Troop D at Butler. In January 1920, he was named deputy superintendent, (now deputy commissioner), of the force and superintendent in March of the same year.
Mr. Adams death came at a time when the present state police force, numbering 2,285, is seeking 300 additional men each year for the next five years. At one time, Adams had difficulty getting the state administration to fill out his force to its authorized complement of 830.
He had his own opinions and methods of combating crime and did not hesitate to voice them, one of them being, "When people in a democracy lose all respect for its laws and officials, the democracy is in danger and the next step in anarchy."
Lynn's wife of 59 years, the former Gertrude Matthews of Dunmore, died last February. They were married in 1906 in Dunmore, PA.
Mr. Adams was a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Military Order of World Wars, American Legion, the Shrine and the Sojourners. He was also a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and commissioner emeritus of the Keystone Area Boy Scouts.
Survivors include his daughter, Mrs. Ruth, (Nicholas), Adams Schilling, Scardsdale, NY; son, Donald W. Adams, Bryn Mawr, PA; and two brothers Harold Adams, CA and Stanley Adams, OH.
Funeral service at Snowdon Funeral Home, Dunmore, with interment to follow in Dunmore Cemetery.
From The Times-Tribune, (Scranton, PA), December 3, 1965:
Lynn George Adams, 85, former Dunmorean who became one of Pennsylvania's first state policemen in 1905 and rose to head that organization and superintendent and then commissioner for more than 20 years, died yesterday in the Muncy Valley Hospital in Sullivan County.
Mr. Adams who retired in 1943, resided in later years in Muncy Valley, PA. He died during the year that the police force of which he was an original member is observing its 60th anniversary as the oldest state constabulary in the nation. Adams was known as a "hard boiled" cop who made police work his career after Army service during the Spanish American War, the Philippine Insurrection and World War I. He also served during World War II.
Pioneering seemed to be in his make-up for he not only was in charge of the state police when several innovations were made but he also was one of this country's first scoutmasters. Throughout his life he remained active in Boy Scout affairs.
Lynn was born July 8, 1880, in Hop Bottom, PA, (Susquehanna County), and spent his boyhood in Dunmore. After attending Dunmore public schools he entered Scranton Central High School but left school in 1898 to enlist for service in the Spanish-American War.
He was named state police commissioner in 1920 and resigned in 1937 after the state police and state highway patrol were merged by the late Gov. George H. Earle. When Arthur H. James became governor in 1939, Adams again was named commissioner and held the post until his retirement in 1943.
During his tenure, several "firsts" were established, including the first training school for troopers, the first identification bureau and the first statewide teletype system in the country.
After his military service, he was assigned to Troop D at Butler. In January 1920, he was named deputy superintendent, (now deputy commissioner), of the force and superintendent in March of the same year.
Mr. Adams death came at a time when the present state police force, numbering 2,285, is seeking 300 additional men each year for the next five years. At one time, Adams had difficulty getting the state administration to fill out his force to its authorized complement of 830.
He had his own opinions and methods of combating crime and did not hesitate to voice them, one of them being, "When people in a democracy lose all respect for its laws and officials, the democracy is in danger and the next step in anarchy."
Lynn's wife of 59 years, the former Gertrude Matthews of Dunmore, died last February. They were married in 1906 in Dunmore, PA.
Mr. Adams was a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Military Order of World Wars, American Legion, the Shrine and the Sojourners. He was also a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and commissioner emeritus of the Keystone Area Boy Scouts.
Survivors include his daughter, Mrs. Ruth, (Nicholas), Adams Schilling, Scardsdale, NY; son, Donald W. Adams, Bryn Mawr, PA; and two brothers Harold Adams, CA and Stanley Adams, OH.
Funeral service at Snowdon Funeral Home, Dunmore, with interment to follow in Dunmore Cemetery.
Lynn George Adams, 85, former Dunmorean who became one of Pennsylvania's first state policemen in 1905 and rose to head that organization and superintendent and then commissioner for more than 20 years, died yesterday in the Muncy Valley Hospital in Sullivan County.
Mr. Adams who retired in 1943, resided in later years in Muncy Valley, PA. He died during the year that the police force of which he was an original member is observing its 60th anniversary as the oldest state constabulary in the nation. Adams was known as a "hard boiled" cop who made police work his career after Army service during the Spanish American War, the Philippine Insurrection and World War I. He also served during World War II.
Pioneering seemed to be in his make-up for he not only was in charge of the state police when several innovations were made but he also was one of this country's first scoutmasters. Throughout his life he remained active in Boy Scout affairs.
Lynn was born July 8, 1880, in Hop Bottom, PA, (Susquehanna County), and spent his boyhood in Dunmore. After attending Dunmore public schools he entered Scranton Central High School but left school in 1898 to enlist for service in the Spanish-American War.
He was named state police commissioner in 1920 and resigned in 1937 after the state police and state highway patrol were merged by the late Gov. George H. Earle. When Arthur H. James became governor in 1939, Adams again was named commissioner and held the post until his retirement in 1943.
During his tenure, several "firsts" were established, including the first training school for troopers, the first identification bureau and the first statewide teletype system in the country.
After his military service, he was assigned to Troop D at Butler. In January 1920, he was named deputy superintendent, (now deputy commissioner), of the force and superintendent in March of the same year.
Mr. Adams death came at a time when the present state police force, numbering 2,285, is seeking 300 additional men each year for the next five years. At one time, Adams had difficulty getting the state administration to fill out his force to its authorized complement of 830.
He had his own opinions and methods of combating crime and did not hesitate to voice them, one of them being, "When people in a democracy lose all respect for its laws and officials, the democracy is in danger and the next step in anarchy."
Lynn's wife of 59 years, the former Gertrude Matthews of Dunmore, died last February. They were married in 1906 in Dunmore, PA.
Mr. Adams was a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Military Order of World Wars, American Legion, the Shrine and the Sojourners. He was also a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and commissioner emeritus of the Keystone Area Boy Scouts.
Survivors include his daughter, Mrs. Ruth, (Nicholas), Adams Schilling, Scardsdale, NY; son, Donald W. Adams, Bryn Mawr, PA; and two brothers Harold Adams, CA and Stanley Adams, OH.
Funeral service at Snowdon Funeral Home, Dunmore, with interment to follow in Dunmore Cemetery.
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