Alton Telegraph
Monday, June 27, 1983
Homer Adams Dies at 64, Alton Developer
Homer M. Adams, 64, of Godfrey, the man credited with developing the Beltline Parkway business district, died at 9:17 p.m. Saturday at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis following a two month illness.
It was Adams' purchase of property along the Beltline that led to the growth of such complexes as Slton Square. He was president and founder of Adams Development Company, and previously had operated the family's commercial printing business, which is now called the Emons Printing Co. He was a World War II Army veteran.
He was born in Alton, a son of the late Joseph and Laura (Miller) Adams, and was married in Alton on Nov. 6, 1946 to the former Juanita Ricyey, who survives.
Surviving besides his wife are two daughters, Vicki Nemec of St. Louis and Carol Stevenson of Godfrey, two sons, Scott and matt, both of Alton and five grandchildren.
Visitation at Gent Funeral Home will be from 3 until 9 p.m. today.
Funeral services at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the 12th Street Presbyterian Church will be officiated by the Rev. W. Russell Shaw.
Burial will be Valhalla Memorial Park where the VFW Post 1308 will conduct military graveside rites. The building fund of the 12th Street Presbyterian Church has been named as a memorial.
Alton Telegraph Monday, June 27, 1983
Homer Adams: Alton's Unofficial Developer
By L. Allen Klope
Telegraph Staff Writer
"The Old Redhead is here with another proposal," Homer Adams said on many occasions when presenting a land development plan before public bodies.
Adams, who died Saturday, always had several proposals in his presentation case.
Some of the plans were met with mixed emotions by some municipas officials, but generally Adams' mild manner and coolness uner fire won out.
His major accomplishments include: Most of the commercial development along 4 1/2 miles of the Beltline Parkway, Alton Square, North port Industrial Park, North Port Hills Subdivision, and D'Adrian Gardens Subdivision.
His office contained cabinets, cases, racks, stands, and other devices to hold many plot plans, architects' renderings, maps and photographs.
A planner personified is what Adams was. He was not a runner or a golfer, or an outdoorsman, except to walk a piece of property to determine if it would be suitable for development.
When he was not surveying a site on foot, he could be seen behind the wheel of his station wagon, ddriving from site to site, generally with a prospect on the passengers' side.
Adams was a businessman on a daily basis, from early morning to late at night, but he took time to serve his community as well.
In recent years, he concentrated his efforts on improving highways by serving as a member of the Greater Alton Chamber of Commerce transportation and economic development committees.
His sons, Scott and Matt, joined him in Adams Development Co. in North Port Industrial Park, and he became involved in the formation of the Lewis and Clark Industrial Development Corp., which is construction a speculation building for light industry, also in North Port.
When he married the former Juanita Ritchey in 1946, Adams was in the Army, where he served for 4 1/2 years. He returned to Alton in 1948 to work for his father in the printing business.
But land development always was on his mind, so the same year, he bought the Enos Apartments on Third Street, became active in the Alton Jaycees, and was elected president of that young men's' group.
In the next two years, Adams became a director of the Greater Alton Association of Commerce, Community Chest, Alton Area Blood Donor Program, American Red Cross, Salvation and Junior Achievement.
He served on the executive board of the Piasa Bird Council, Boy Scouts of America, was an Alton liquor commissioner, and a deacon at 12th Street Presbyterian Church.
Adams was the organizer and founder of the Beltline Parkway Business Association in 1971.
In 1950, the Jaycees honored Adams with the Distinguished Service Award s young man of the year. Unlike many who are honored and then drop out of sight, Adams continued his community service.
In 1954, he served as general chairman of the then Community Chest campaign.
The following year, Adams and his father bought National Printing Co., and in 1956 he bought some property on Belle Street for development.
He continued to operate Adams Printing, but bought land in Godfrey on which D'Adrian Gardens Subdivision, and the land development business was picking up, so in 1965, he sold the printing business to Charles Emons.
Devoting full time to land development, Adams bought the former Alton Brick Co. property at the Beltline Parkway and Alby Street, moved his office there, and began seeking tenants.
As negotiations with various firms continued, Adams kept busy with other plans, and received Alton City Plan Commission approval in 1968 for the industrial park.
The same year, Southwestern Illinois Metropolitan Area Planning Commission honored him for subdivision design and development.
The following year, Adams was honored at "Realtors Citizen of the Year" by the Alton-Wood River Board of Realtors.
With additional land available just north of the brick company property, Adams developed North Port Hills Subdivision in 1970.
That year, he also proposed a mobile home park in Alton, but when there were many protests, Adams abandoned that plan and moved ahead with his idea of bringing a major hotel chain to the city.
In 1972, he obtained an easement on Golf Course Road for a motel, and Ramada Inn construction started soon after.
In 1973, Adams was honored, along with three others, as a founder of the local Junior Achievement chapter. Also, he was credited with bring 64 businesses to the Beltline.
The industrial part began to take shape in 1974, and the same year, Adams donated land on Route 67 for a new hall for Godfrey Township.
A park was constructed at the back of the town hall property, and in 1980 was named "Adams Park" in his honor. He received the Godfrey Women's Club Golden Leaf Award the same year for his contributions to beautification.
"Unofficially, Homer (Adams) was Alton's developer," said Paul Lentz, "but we would not have had enough money to pay him for his service to the city."
"Homer was the driving force behind the business devekopment on the Beltline, as well as downtown and other areas of the city," Lenz said.
Monday, June 27, 1983
Homer Adams Dies at 64, Alton Developer
Homer M. Adams, 64, of Godfrey, the man credited with developing the Beltline Parkway business district, died at 9:17 p.m. Saturday at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis following a two month illness.
It was Adams' purchase of property along the Beltline that led to the growth of such complexes as Slton Square. He was president and founder of Adams Development Company, and previously had operated the family's commercial printing business, which is now called the Emons Printing Co. He was a World War II Army veteran.
He was born in Alton, a son of the late Joseph and Laura (Miller) Adams, and was married in Alton on Nov. 6, 1946 to the former Juanita Ricyey, who survives.
Surviving besides his wife are two daughters, Vicki Nemec of St. Louis and Carol Stevenson of Godfrey, two sons, Scott and matt, both of Alton and five grandchildren.
Visitation at Gent Funeral Home will be from 3 until 9 p.m. today.
Funeral services at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the 12th Street Presbyterian Church will be officiated by the Rev. W. Russell Shaw.
Burial will be Valhalla Memorial Park where the VFW Post 1308 will conduct military graveside rites. The building fund of the 12th Street Presbyterian Church has been named as a memorial.
Alton Telegraph Monday, June 27, 1983
Homer Adams: Alton's Unofficial Developer
By L. Allen Klope
Telegraph Staff Writer
"The Old Redhead is here with another proposal," Homer Adams said on many occasions when presenting a land development plan before public bodies.
Adams, who died Saturday, always had several proposals in his presentation case.
Some of the plans were met with mixed emotions by some municipas officials, but generally Adams' mild manner and coolness uner fire won out.
His major accomplishments include: Most of the commercial development along 4 1/2 miles of the Beltline Parkway, Alton Square, North port Industrial Park, North Port Hills Subdivision, and D'Adrian Gardens Subdivision.
His office contained cabinets, cases, racks, stands, and other devices to hold many plot plans, architects' renderings, maps and photographs.
A planner personified is what Adams was. He was not a runner or a golfer, or an outdoorsman, except to walk a piece of property to determine if it would be suitable for development.
When he was not surveying a site on foot, he could be seen behind the wheel of his station wagon, ddriving from site to site, generally with a prospect on the passengers' side.
Adams was a businessman on a daily basis, from early morning to late at night, but he took time to serve his community as well.
In recent years, he concentrated his efforts on improving highways by serving as a member of the Greater Alton Chamber of Commerce transportation and economic development committees.
His sons, Scott and Matt, joined him in Adams Development Co. in North Port Industrial Park, and he became involved in the formation of the Lewis and Clark Industrial Development Corp., which is construction a speculation building for light industry, also in North Port.
When he married the former Juanita Ritchey in 1946, Adams was in the Army, where he served for 4 1/2 years. He returned to Alton in 1948 to work for his father in the printing business.
But land development always was on his mind, so the same year, he bought the Enos Apartments on Third Street, became active in the Alton Jaycees, and was elected president of that young men's' group.
In the next two years, Adams became a director of the Greater Alton Association of Commerce, Community Chest, Alton Area Blood Donor Program, American Red Cross, Salvation and Junior Achievement.
He served on the executive board of the Piasa Bird Council, Boy Scouts of America, was an Alton liquor commissioner, and a deacon at 12th Street Presbyterian Church.
Adams was the organizer and founder of the Beltline Parkway Business Association in 1971.
In 1950, the Jaycees honored Adams with the Distinguished Service Award s young man of the year. Unlike many who are honored and then drop out of sight, Adams continued his community service.
In 1954, he served as general chairman of the then Community Chest campaign.
The following year, Adams and his father bought National Printing Co., and in 1956 he bought some property on Belle Street for development.
He continued to operate Adams Printing, but bought land in Godfrey on which D'Adrian Gardens Subdivision, and the land development business was picking up, so in 1965, he sold the printing business to Charles Emons.
Devoting full time to land development, Adams bought the former Alton Brick Co. property at the Beltline Parkway and Alby Street, moved his office there, and began seeking tenants.
As negotiations with various firms continued, Adams kept busy with other plans, and received Alton City Plan Commission approval in 1968 for the industrial park.
The same year, Southwestern Illinois Metropolitan Area Planning Commission honored him for subdivision design and development.
The following year, Adams was honored at "Realtors Citizen of the Year" by the Alton-Wood River Board of Realtors.
With additional land available just north of the brick company property, Adams developed North Port Hills Subdivision in 1970.
That year, he also proposed a mobile home park in Alton, but when there were many protests, Adams abandoned that plan and moved ahead with his idea of bringing a major hotel chain to the city.
In 1972, he obtained an easement on Golf Course Road for a motel, and Ramada Inn construction started soon after.
In 1973, Adams was honored, along with three others, as a founder of the local Junior Achievement chapter. Also, he was credited with bring 64 businesses to the Beltline.
The industrial part began to take shape in 1974, and the same year, Adams donated land on Route 67 for a new hall for Godfrey Township.
A park was constructed at the back of the town hall property, and in 1980 was named "Adams Park" in his honor. He received the Godfrey Women's Club Golden Leaf Award the same year for his contributions to beautification.
"Unofficially, Homer (Adams) was Alton's developer," said Paul Lentz, "but we would not have had enough money to pay him for his service to the city."
"Homer was the driving force behind the business devekopment on the Beltline, as well as downtown and other areas of the city," Lenz said.
Alton Telegraph
Monday, June 27, 1983
Homer Adams Dies at 64, Alton Developer
Homer M. Adams, 64, of Godfrey, the man credited with developing the Beltline Parkway business district, died at 9:17 p.m. Saturday at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis following a two month illness.
It was Adams' purchase of property along the Beltline that led to the growth of such complexes as Slton Square. He was president and founder of Adams Development Company, and previously had operated the family's commercial printing business, which is now called the Emons Printing Co. He was a World War II Army veteran.
He was born in Alton, a son of the late Joseph and Laura (Miller) Adams, and was married in Alton on Nov. 6, 1946 to the former Juanita Ricyey, who survives.
Surviving besides his wife are two daughters, Vicki Nemec of St. Louis and Carol Stevenson of Godfrey, two sons, Scott and matt, both of Alton and five grandchildren.
Visitation at Gent Funeral Home will be from 3 until 9 p.m. today.
Funeral services at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the 12th Street Presbyterian Church will be officiated by the Rev. W. Russell Shaw.
Burial will be Valhalla Memorial Park where the VFW Post 1308 will conduct military graveside rites. The building fund of the 12th Street Presbyterian Church has been named as a memorial.
Alton Telegraph Monday, June 27, 1983
Homer Adams: Alton's Unofficial Developer
By L. Allen Klope
Telegraph Staff Writer
"The Old Redhead is here with another proposal," Homer Adams said on many occasions when presenting a land development plan before public bodies.
Adams, who died Saturday, always had several proposals in his presentation case.
Some of the plans were met with mixed emotions by some municipas officials, but generally Adams' mild manner and coolness uner fire won out.
His major accomplishments include: Most of the commercial development along 4 1/2 miles of the Beltline Parkway, Alton Square, North port Industrial Park, North Port Hills Subdivision, and D'Adrian Gardens Subdivision.
His office contained cabinets, cases, racks, stands, and other devices to hold many plot plans, architects' renderings, maps and photographs.
A planner personified is what Adams was. He was not a runner or a golfer, or an outdoorsman, except to walk a piece of property to determine if it would be suitable for development.
When he was not surveying a site on foot, he could be seen behind the wheel of his station wagon, ddriving from site to site, generally with a prospect on the passengers' side.
Adams was a businessman on a daily basis, from early morning to late at night, but he took time to serve his community as well.
In recent years, he concentrated his efforts on improving highways by serving as a member of the Greater Alton Chamber of Commerce transportation and economic development committees.
His sons, Scott and Matt, joined him in Adams Development Co. in North Port Industrial Park, and he became involved in the formation of the Lewis and Clark Industrial Development Corp., which is construction a speculation building for light industry, also in North Port.
When he married the former Juanita Ritchey in 1946, Adams was in the Army, where he served for 4 1/2 years. He returned to Alton in 1948 to work for his father in the printing business.
But land development always was on his mind, so the same year, he bought the Enos Apartments on Third Street, became active in the Alton Jaycees, and was elected president of that young men's' group.
In the next two years, Adams became a director of the Greater Alton Association of Commerce, Community Chest, Alton Area Blood Donor Program, American Red Cross, Salvation and Junior Achievement.
He served on the executive board of the Piasa Bird Council, Boy Scouts of America, was an Alton liquor commissioner, and a deacon at 12th Street Presbyterian Church.
Adams was the organizer and founder of the Beltline Parkway Business Association in 1971.
In 1950, the Jaycees honored Adams with the Distinguished Service Award s young man of the year. Unlike many who are honored and then drop out of sight, Adams continued his community service.
In 1954, he served as general chairman of the then Community Chest campaign.
The following year, Adams and his father bought National Printing Co., and in 1956 he bought some property on Belle Street for development.
He continued to operate Adams Printing, but bought land in Godfrey on which D'Adrian Gardens Subdivision, and the land development business was picking up, so in 1965, he sold the printing business to Charles Emons.
Devoting full time to land development, Adams bought the former Alton Brick Co. property at the Beltline Parkway and Alby Street, moved his office there, and began seeking tenants.
As negotiations with various firms continued, Adams kept busy with other plans, and received Alton City Plan Commission approval in 1968 for the industrial park.
The same year, Southwestern Illinois Metropolitan Area Planning Commission honored him for subdivision design and development.
The following year, Adams was honored at "Realtors Citizen of the Year" by the Alton-Wood River Board of Realtors.
With additional land available just north of the brick company property, Adams developed North Port Hills Subdivision in 1970.
That year, he also proposed a mobile home park in Alton, but when there were many protests, Adams abandoned that plan and moved ahead with his idea of bringing a major hotel chain to the city.
In 1972, he obtained an easement on Golf Course Road for a motel, and Ramada Inn construction started soon after.
In 1973, Adams was honored, along with three others, as a founder of the local Junior Achievement chapter. Also, he was credited with bring 64 businesses to the Beltline.
The industrial part began to take shape in 1974, and the same year, Adams donated land on Route 67 for a new hall for Godfrey Township.
A park was constructed at the back of the town hall property, and in 1980 was named "Adams Park" in his honor. He received the Godfrey Women's Club Golden Leaf Award the same year for his contributions to beautification.
"Unofficially, Homer (Adams) was Alton's developer," said Paul Lentz, "but we would not have had enough money to pay him for his service to the city."
"Homer was the driving force behind the business devekopment on the Beltline, as well as downtown and other areas of the city," Lenz said.
Monday, June 27, 1983
Homer Adams Dies at 64, Alton Developer
Homer M. Adams, 64, of Godfrey, the man credited with developing the Beltline Parkway business district, died at 9:17 p.m. Saturday at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis following a two month illness.
It was Adams' purchase of property along the Beltline that led to the growth of such complexes as Slton Square. He was president and founder of Adams Development Company, and previously had operated the family's commercial printing business, which is now called the Emons Printing Co. He was a World War II Army veteran.
He was born in Alton, a son of the late Joseph and Laura (Miller) Adams, and was married in Alton on Nov. 6, 1946 to the former Juanita Ricyey, who survives.
Surviving besides his wife are two daughters, Vicki Nemec of St. Louis and Carol Stevenson of Godfrey, two sons, Scott and matt, both of Alton and five grandchildren.
Visitation at Gent Funeral Home will be from 3 until 9 p.m. today.
Funeral services at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the 12th Street Presbyterian Church will be officiated by the Rev. W. Russell Shaw.
Burial will be Valhalla Memorial Park where the VFW Post 1308 will conduct military graveside rites. The building fund of the 12th Street Presbyterian Church has been named as a memorial.
Alton Telegraph Monday, June 27, 1983
Homer Adams: Alton's Unofficial Developer
By L. Allen Klope
Telegraph Staff Writer
"The Old Redhead is here with another proposal," Homer Adams said on many occasions when presenting a land development plan before public bodies.
Adams, who died Saturday, always had several proposals in his presentation case.
Some of the plans were met with mixed emotions by some municipas officials, but generally Adams' mild manner and coolness uner fire won out.
His major accomplishments include: Most of the commercial development along 4 1/2 miles of the Beltline Parkway, Alton Square, North port Industrial Park, North Port Hills Subdivision, and D'Adrian Gardens Subdivision.
His office contained cabinets, cases, racks, stands, and other devices to hold many plot plans, architects' renderings, maps and photographs.
A planner personified is what Adams was. He was not a runner or a golfer, or an outdoorsman, except to walk a piece of property to determine if it would be suitable for development.
When he was not surveying a site on foot, he could be seen behind the wheel of his station wagon, ddriving from site to site, generally with a prospect on the passengers' side.
Adams was a businessman on a daily basis, from early morning to late at night, but he took time to serve his community as well.
In recent years, he concentrated his efforts on improving highways by serving as a member of the Greater Alton Chamber of Commerce transportation and economic development committees.
His sons, Scott and Matt, joined him in Adams Development Co. in North Port Industrial Park, and he became involved in the formation of the Lewis and Clark Industrial Development Corp., which is construction a speculation building for light industry, also in North Port.
When he married the former Juanita Ritchey in 1946, Adams was in the Army, where he served for 4 1/2 years. He returned to Alton in 1948 to work for his father in the printing business.
But land development always was on his mind, so the same year, he bought the Enos Apartments on Third Street, became active in the Alton Jaycees, and was elected president of that young men's' group.
In the next two years, Adams became a director of the Greater Alton Association of Commerce, Community Chest, Alton Area Blood Donor Program, American Red Cross, Salvation and Junior Achievement.
He served on the executive board of the Piasa Bird Council, Boy Scouts of America, was an Alton liquor commissioner, and a deacon at 12th Street Presbyterian Church.
Adams was the organizer and founder of the Beltline Parkway Business Association in 1971.
In 1950, the Jaycees honored Adams with the Distinguished Service Award s young man of the year. Unlike many who are honored and then drop out of sight, Adams continued his community service.
In 1954, he served as general chairman of the then Community Chest campaign.
The following year, Adams and his father bought National Printing Co., and in 1956 he bought some property on Belle Street for development.
He continued to operate Adams Printing, but bought land in Godfrey on which D'Adrian Gardens Subdivision, and the land development business was picking up, so in 1965, he sold the printing business to Charles Emons.
Devoting full time to land development, Adams bought the former Alton Brick Co. property at the Beltline Parkway and Alby Street, moved his office there, and began seeking tenants.
As negotiations with various firms continued, Adams kept busy with other plans, and received Alton City Plan Commission approval in 1968 for the industrial park.
The same year, Southwestern Illinois Metropolitan Area Planning Commission honored him for subdivision design and development.
The following year, Adams was honored at "Realtors Citizen of the Year" by the Alton-Wood River Board of Realtors.
With additional land available just north of the brick company property, Adams developed North Port Hills Subdivision in 1970.
That year, he also proposed a mobile home park in Alton, but when there were many protests, Adams abandoned that plan and moved ahead with his idea of bringing a major hotel chain to the city.
In 1972, he obtained an easement on Golf Course Road for a motel, and Ramada Inn construction started soon after.
In 1973, Adams was honored, along with three others, as a founder of the local Junior Achievement chapter. Also, he was credited with bring 64 businesses to the Beltline.
The industrial part began to take shape in 1974, and the same year, Adams donated land on Route 67 for a new hall for Godfrey Township.
A park was constructed at the back of the town hall property, and in 1980 was named "Adams Park" in his honor. He received the Godfrey Women's Club Golden Leaf Award the same year for his contributions to beautification.
"Unofficially, Homer (Adams) was Alton's developer," said Paul Lentz, "but we would not have had enough money to pay him for his service to the city."
"Homer was the driving force behind the business devekopment on the Beltline, as well as downtown and other areas of the city," Lenz said.
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