Adapted from an article which appeared in the November 2010 issue of  TreeLine – the newsletter of the North Carolina Forestry Association.

Stan Adams

In October, the N.C. Division of Forest Resources honored former state forester and NC State University Forestry and Environmental Resources alumnus Stan Adams by dedicating a training center in his memory at Jordan Lake Educational State Forest. 

“It is an honor and privilege to celebrate and recognize Stan for his wonderful leadership and accomplishments within the N.C. Forest Service,” said Wib Owen, the current state forester.

Adams served as the state forester and director of the N.C. Division of Forest Resources from 1991-2006. He died Dec. 10, 2009 after a lengthy illness.

Adams is best known for helping institute a thorough training regimen and emphasizing classroom and practical training as the most efficient way to learn the skills needed to be a good forester and firefighter. Adams’ vision and leadership in 15 years as the state forester helped the division earn recognition as one of the nation’s top wildfire fighting agencies.

A portion of the Adams family was able to attend the dedication ceremony. Ellen poses with her grandson Parker, followed by son, David, grandson Jack and daughter-in-law, Jenny.

“Stan would be so proud, and yet humbled,” stated wife Ellen during the ceremony.  “He believed that he had the best people in the world working with him.  And, any credit or accolades for the achievements of the Division were the direct result of hard work and dedication of his staff.” 

Prior to leading the state forestry agency, Adams spent 34 years with the U.S. Forest Service and served as a forester, district ranger and forest supervisor during that span. In total, his career lasted more than 49 years. In addition, Adams served in the Navy and retired from military service in 1988 as a captain.

The training center named for Adams was completed earlier this year. The center is the division’s first centrally located facility in North Carolina and can handle up to 100 employees in four separate classrooms. The 3,200 square-foot center is also being used to teach school groups that visit the forest about environmental education.  The center was paid for using receipts from the N.C. Division of Forest Resources’ sale of timber at Jordan Lake Educational State Forest. 

The training center was packed during the dedication with friends, family and co-workers from the private, public and university sectors. 

Austin Heine, the first recipient of the Stan Adams Scholarship was on hand for the event

One special guest in attendance was Austin Heine, who is a sophomore majoring in forest management at N.C. State University.  Heine is the first recipient of the Stan Adams Scholarship Award.  The scholarship is a partnership between the North Carolina Division of SAF, the Division of Forest Resources and N.C. State University.  The scholarship provides a paid SAF Student Membership and tuition support to an undergraduate student in forest management.  

If you would like to contribute to the Stan Adams Scholarship, please contact Jennifer Viets-Catalano at N.C. State University either by phone at (919) 513-7734 or by e-mail at jennifer_catalano@ncsu.edu.