WHEREAS, Captain Anthony Reid Adams, USCG, Ret., a distinguished veteran and a generous volunteer in his community, died on November 15, 2018; and
WHEREAS, a native of Bakersfield, California, Anthony "Tony" Adams joined the United States Coast Guard (USCG) at the age of 17 and served the nation for more than 30 years as a search and rescue pilot, mastering several types of aircraft; and
WHEREAS, in 1977, Tony Adams was assigned to the Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he directed the Marine Environmental Protection Program, managing key legislative proposals including the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan, the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, the Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; and
WHEREAS, Tony Adams also served as the fiduciary manager of the oil spill cleanup fund for USCG and Environmental Protection Agency responses to spills in the United States navigable waters, and he researched, developed, and implemented innovative technologies such as "oil spill fingerprinting" to identify the source of leaks and spills; and
WHEREAS, Tony Adams then served as deputy group commander and executive officer of Coast Guard Air Station North Bend and commanding officer of Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, both located in Oregon, overseeing several enhancements to the two stations; and
WHEREAS, following his successful command assignment, Tony Adams was appointed as the USCG liaison to Forces Command at Fort McPherson in Georgia, then returned to Coast Guard Headquarters to finish his career; and
WHEREAS, after his retirement, Tony Adams pursued a second career as chief executive officer of Adams Maritime and principal consultant for Gallagher Marine Systems, where he helped develop spill containment and countermeasure plans for ships calling on United States ports; and
WHEREAS, Tony Adams was a devout Roman Catholic who served as treasurer for the Knights of Columbus for 22 years, and he gave generously of his time and talents to support charitable organizations; he also fostered medically fragile or abused children; and
WHEREAS, Tony Adams will be fondly remembered by his wife of 54 years, Patricia Ann Adams; his children, the Honorable Dawn M. Adams, Anthony R. Adams, Jr., and Scott D. Adams, and their families; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of Virginia hereby note with great sadness the loss of Captain Anthony Reid Adams, USCG, Ret.; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Captain Anthony Reid Adams, USCG, Ret., as an expression of the Senate of Virginia's respect for his memory.