JOE ADAMS On December 12, long-time Butte College instructor Joe Adams died of heart failure at his home in Ashland, Oregon. He was 82. Born June 29, 1939, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Ray and Dorothy Adams, Joseph W. Adams completed his early education there, then joined the Marine Corps. After his discharge, he enrolled at Southern Illinois University where he earned a BA with a double major in English and Psychology. He moved to California and worked as a probation officer in Imperial and Marin Counties, eventually earning his MA in creative writing from CSU, San Francisco. He soon found his way to Chico where he joined the faculty of the newly formed Butte College at its old campus in Durham. During his tenure at Butte, Joe taught everything from English to Psychology. He was a charter member of the American Federation of Teachers and was active in politics his entire time there. Those interests led him to the political science department at CSU, Chico, where he earned his MA. While he never taught poli sci at Butte, his skills were recognized by the political science department at Humboldt State University, Arcata, where he taught upper division and graduate courses during summer sessions. Academically restless and a voracious reader, he took courses at University College, Dublin, Ireland, and did the course work for a PhD program at Idaho State University. Bob Dylan, John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, and Tom Russell made his music; Triumph Bonneville, Harley Davidson hog, and BMW RT100 were his motorcycles; Jameson and Herradura tequila were his drinks. He liked nothing better than rehashing history's war-time blunders over a poker table with the crew, while inveighing against the latest assault on human rights and dignity, with footnotes if necessary. A contrarian for the sake of the argument and a superb political strategist, Joe could see what made people tick and then run with it. But the contrarian embraced retirement and found joy in his mountain home in Mineral, in camping on the Oregon coast, and then in living at Whaleshead. He and his partner, Marianne Werner, also spent time traveling: Russia, Spain, Morocco, France, England, Alaska, Costa Rica, Australia, Tasmania, Italyalways seeking new adventures on the roads less traveled. Joe Adams is survived by his children, Joe, Julie, and Carrie Adams; his grandchildren, Alyssa, Dylan, and Lillian Adams; numerous loving cousins; former wives, Marianna Love and Idie Adams; and his best friend and final caregiver, Marianne Werner. He also leaves behind former students and a circle of dear friends who would have much preferred to keep him around. And his motto of the last few years holds: "What are you waiting for?"

Published by Chico Enterprise-Record on Dec. 22, 2021.