Maurice Adams - President
Maurice Adams is the eldest grandchild of Eddie and Annie Adams, a resident of San Jose California. He is semi-retired from a career in the wholesale grocery trade. He lives with his wife, Leslie, of over 35 years and has two children; Walter and Crystal. A lifelong believer in education, Maurice has strived to impress the importance of education upon his children and the greater family. Both children are accomplished professionals and strive to help others benefit from obtaining higher education. It is the passing on of the understanding of the importance of education that makes this family and Foundation strong.
Charles Adams - Founding Director
Charles Adams is the youngest child of Eddie and Annie Adams. He was born in Mississippi shortly before the family migrated to Utah, where he lived until his graduation from the University of Utah with a degree in Accounting. While attending the “U” he enrolled in the Army ROTC to avoid the draft and to partially fund his education. As a Lieutenant in the US Army Charles spent a year in Korea, which was a life changing experience. For the first time in his life, he enjoyed being seen as an accomplished American citizen, not as a Negro existing in white America.
Upon completion of his military service and boosted by his new found self-esteem, Charles attended graduate business school at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated with Honors, and was selected by Time Magazine as a business school All American.
While completing the experience requirement to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Charles founded the San Francisco Chapter of the newly created National Association of Black Accountants. where he also served as National Treasurer. Charles also co-founded and was the Managing Partner of the CPA firm Adams, Grant & White in Oakland, California. It was while at this firm that Charles achieved his most significant professional accomplishment: mentoring more than 30 BIPOC accountants to obtain their CPA licenses while working at the firm.
One of the young accountants who obtained qualifying CPA experience at AG&W was Ifeoma Mbanugo, who Charles not only assisted in achieving her professional success, but who he supported as she trained to participate in the first Women’s Olympic Marathon held at the 1984 Los Angeles International Olympics. Charles and Ifeoma are now the proud parents of five children and six grandchildren.
Steven Bell - Legacy Director
Steve is the son of Augustus Bell and Afesa Adams, the only daughter of Eddie and Annie Adams. Steve is a native of Utah, where he began teaching at the University of Utah in 1992 as a clinical instructor. While Steve was teaching, he completed his doctoral degree in the fall of 2007. Steve is now an Associate Professor (Lecturer) in the Department of Occupational and Recreational Therapies in the College of Health at the University of Utah. He serves on several committees at the program, departmental, college, and university levels. Steve’s academic and social justice work includes addressing healthcare disparities as well as equity, diversity, and inclusion. Steve is licensed as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (TRS) in the State of Utah and nationally certified as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) by the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC).
Steve has the greatest love for family and friends and will tell you “Friends are good, family is great, but grandchildren (6) are the best!”
Anthony (Tony) Adams - Director
Tony was elected to the Foundation’s Board of Directors in November 2021. As a Legacy Director, Tony succeeds his father, Hank Adams, a Founding Director and a Past President of the Foundation. When Hank developed a heart ailment that restricted his physical activities, Tony provided assistance to Hank that allowed him to function as President until his death.
Tony is the second oldest living grandchild of Eddie and Annie Adams. As such, his memory of the Foundation’s namesakes is an important factor in ensuring the activities of the Foundation uphold the values, aspirations and legacy for which the Foundation was created.
Tony, a proud father of four chidren, retired from Kennecott Copper after a 30+ year career, during which he worked in several areas, including ore mining, copper smelting and computer technology. Tony currently lives in West Valley, Utah with his wife of 26 years, Cheryl, and teenage grandson, Nick, for whom they became primary caregivers after the tragic death of Nick’s mother.