Charles J. Adams
- May 16, 2008
- 91 years
About Charles J. Adams
Charles J. Adams, 91, American politician.
Explore other notable deaths in 2008 or deaths in May 2008.
The Deaths Archive presents
How well do you know Charles J. Adams?
Explore their life. Test your knowledge. Beat the challenge.
10 questions · One legacy · How much do you really know?
Challenge your friends
Play together in real-time.
Advertisement
60 Seconds Life Story
Charles J.
Charles J. Adams
d. 2008
60 Seconds: Charles J. Adams's Life Story
A brief overview of the life and public service career of Vermont attorney and politician Charles J. Adams.
Transcript
Charles J. Adams was a dedicated Vermont attorney and politician whose life spanned nearly a century of service. Born in Randolph in 1917, he eventually settled into a life of law and public duty. During the Second World War, Adams served as a captain in the 3rd Armored Division in Europe. After returning home, he earned his law degree from Boston University in 1951. Adams became deeply involved in his local community of Waterbury, serving in various government and school board roles. In 1962, he reached a professional milestone when he was appointed to serve as the Vermont Attorney General. After a long career as a private attorney, he passed away in May 2008 at the age of ninety-one.
Play the illustrated life story above, or read the full biography on this page.
Visual credits: This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID hec.36587.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing. (Public domain) · Coverr-Free-Footage / Pixabay (Pixabay Content License) · digital.library.unt.edu (Public domain) · Photograph (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Generated illustration by The Deaths Archive (Generated illustration, not a photograph) · Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Firefox13 using CommonsHelper. (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Generated illustration by The Deaths Archive (Generated illustration, not a photograph)
An illustrated presentation assembled inside the archive from the approved script and the credited images: narration, scene transitions and captions. Caption timing is estimated from the narration.
Narrated illustration. Images are sourced and credited; they are not presented as authenticated photographs.
Full Biography
|Charles J. Adams (February 17, 1917 – May 16, 2008) was a Vermont attorney whose career included an interim appointment as Vermont Attorney General.
Biography
Charles Jairus Adams was born in Randolph, Vermont, on February 17, 1917, the son of Charles Bayley Adams and Jeanette (Metzger) Adams. His father served as an Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court from 1949 to 1961. Adams was raised and educated in Waterbury, and graduated from Norwich University in 1939.
Adams joined the United States Army for World War II and served as a captain with the 3rd Armored Division during combat in the European Theater of Operations. On July 5, 1942, he married Mary Ella Tobey of Belmont, Massachusetts; they were married in Leesville, Louisiana, while Adams was stationed at Camp Beauregard prior to his unit's departure for Europe.
In 1951 Adams graduated from the Boston University School of Law and became an attorney, first in Montpelier and later in Waterbury. A Republican in politics, he was active in local government including Waterbury village trustee and president, and member of the town of Waterbury's school board. He was also involved in several civic and fraternal organizations, including the Masons and Shriners, the Norwich University Alumni Association and the Norwich University Cemetery Board of Trustees.
In December 1961, Governor F. Ray Keyser announced that he would appoint Adams as Vermont Attorney General to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Thomas M. Debevoise. Adams assumed the office on January 2, 1962, and served until the end of Debevoise's term in January 1963. He did not run for a full term in 1962, and was succeeded by Charles E. Gibson Jr., who had served as his deputy.
Adams continued practicing law, and later moved to South Burlington. He died on May 16, 2008, at the Vermont Respite House in Williston. He was survived by his daughters Mary Jean Sturgis and Carol Allen.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Interactive
Test Your Knowledge – Trivia Challenge
How well do you know this person's life and legacy?
No account needed to play. Sign in to keep your score on the leaderboard.
Books & Media
Find books, audiobooks and films about Charles J. Adams on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_J._Adams_(Vermont_politician)
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Charles J. Adams's archived record and the sources above.
1.Who succeeded Charles J. Adams as Vermont Attorney General?
- A.Charles Bayley Adams
- B.Charles E. Gibson Jr.correct
- C.F. Ray Keyser
- D.Thomas M. Debevoise
Charles J. Adams was succeeded as Vermont Attorney General by Charles E. Gibson Jr.
Source: Biography section
2.Charles J. Adams passed away in which location?
- A.Randolph, Vermont
- B.Boston, Massachusetts
- C.Waterbury, Vermont
- D.Vermont Respite House in Willistoncorrect
Charles J. Adams died on May 16, 2008, at the Vermont Respite House in Williston.
Source: Biography section
3.How old was Charles J. Adams when he died?
- A.93
- B.95
- C.91correct
- D.87
Charles J. Adams was 91 years old at the time of his death.
Source: Biography section
4.Which of the following was a fraternal organization that Charles J. Adams was involved in?
- A.The American Legion
- B.The Lions Club
- C.The Masonscorrect
- D.The Rotary Club
Charles J. Adams was involved in several civic and fraternal organizations, including the Masons and Shriners.
Source: Biography section
5.Who were the surviving daughters of Charles J. Adams?
- A.Jeanette Adams and Mary Jean Sturgis
- B.Carol Allen and Mary Ella Tobey
- C.Mary Ella Tobey and Jeanette Adams
- D.Mary Jean Sturgis and Carol Allencorrect
Charles J. Adams was survived by his daughters Mary Jean Sturgis and Carol Allen.
Source: Biography section
6.Charles J. Adams was stationed at which military camp prior to his unit's departure for Europe?
- A.Camp Waterbury
- B.Camp Randolph
- C.Camp Williston
- D.Camp Beauregardcorrect
Charles J. Adams was stationed at Camp Beauregard prior to his unit's departure for Europe.
Source: Biography section
7.In which city was Charles J. Adams born?
- A.Montpelier
- B.Waterbury
- C.South Burlington
- D.Randolphcorrect
Charles Jairus Adams was born in Randolph, Vermont, on February 17, 1917.
Source: Biography section
8.Charles J. Adams graduated from which university in 1939?
- A.Harvard University
- B.Boston University
- C.Norwich Universitycorrect
- D.Vermont State College
Charles J. Adams was raised and educated in Waterbury and graduated from Norwich University in 1939.
Source: Biography section
9.During World War II, in which unit did Charles J. Adams serve?
- A.3rd Armored Divisioncorrect
- B.5th Army Corps
- C.101st Airborne Division
- D.1st Infantry Division
Charles J. Adams served as a captain with the 3rd Armored Division during combat in the European Theater of Operations.
Source: Biography section
10.What was the profession of Charles Bayley Adams, the father of Charles J. Adams?
- A.Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Courtcorrect
- B.School board president
- C.Attorney General
- D.Governor
Charles Bayley Adams served as an Associate Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court from 1949 to 1961.
Source: Biography section
11.Where did Charles J. Adams marry Mary Ella Tobey in 1942?
- A.Waterbury, Vermont
- B.Leesville, Louisianacorrect
- C.Boston, Massachusetts
- D.Randolph, Vermont
Charles J. Adams married Mary Ella Tobey in Leesville, Louisiana, while stationed at Camp Beauregard.
Source: Biography section
12.Charles J. Adams graduated from the Boston University School of Law in what year?
- A.1951correct
- B.1949
- C.1961
- D.1939
In 1951, Charles J. Adams graduated from the Boston University School of Law and became an attorney.
Source: Biography section
13.To which political party did Charles J. Adams belong?
- A.Democratic
- B.Republicancorrect
- C.Whig
- D.Independent
Charles J. Adams was a Republican in politics.
Source: Biography section
14.Charles J. Adams served as a trustee and president for which village?
- A.Randolph
- B.Waterburycorrect
- C.Montpelier
- D.South Burlington
Charles J. Adams was active in local government including serving as Waterbury village trustee and president.
Source: Biography section
15.Who did Charles J. Adams replace as Vermont Attorney General in 1962?
- A.Thomas M. Debevoisecorrect
- B.Charles E. Gibson Jr.
- C.F. Ray Keyser
- D.Jeanette Adams
Charles J. Adams was appointed to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Thomas M. Debevoise.
Source: Biography section
16.On what date did Charles J. Adams assume the office of Vermont Attorney General?
- A.February 17, 1962
- B.January 2, 1962correct
- C.January 1, 1963
- D.December 1, 1961
Charles J. Adams assumed the office of Vermont Attorney General on January 2, 1962.
Source: Biography section
Explore the archive
People who died on May 16
Spotted an error?
Help us keep the archive accurate. Report a correction with a source.
Report an error for Charles J. Adams →Advertisement
