William Morgan Adams Sr.

Bill was born to Billy Morgan Adams and Mary Adams Church on August 4, 1943, in Farmville, Virginia. His father died in World War II when Bill was an infant, and his mother married Armistead (“Arnie”) Church, who helped raise him. Bill grew up in Chatham, Virginia, and attended Hargrave Military Academy there, graduating in 1961, before continuing his education at the University of Richmond (UR). He married his high school sweetheart, Cabell Montgomery, in 1963. He earned his BA in English from UR and was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army in 1965.

Bill served as a nuclear weapons officer from 1967 to 1970, living near Stuttgart, Germany, with his wife and son, William Morgan Adams Jr (“Morgan”). After moving back to the States, Bill completed his master’s of hospital administration at the Medical College of Virginia, in Richmond, and he started his career at Mary Washington Hospital, in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Over the course of their careers, Bill and Cabell lived in Richmond and Fredericksburg; Birmingham, Alabama; Carmel, Indiana; Mount Airy and Concord, North Carolina; Liberty Township, Ohio; Lakewood, New Jersey; Leesburg, Virginia; and Ellicott City. Bill was highly regarded everywhere he worked. His kindness shone brightly, he made friends easily, and he was recognized for the improvements he made.

Upon retiring, Bill joined his son in running At Speed, their exotic car restoration and performance business in Ellicott City, a venture he enjoyed immensely.

While in Germany, Bill traveled with Cabell and Morgan to destinations such as Amsterdam, France, Spain, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland. Bill and Cabell later visited the U.K. and Ireland. He particularly loved his visit to London with its rich literary history. He was an avid competitor, playing tennis and golf, and thoroughly enjoyed road course racing with his son. Bill relished watching sports—particularly Formula 1 races and football (the Baltimore Ravens)—a hobby eclipsed only by his love of cars and restoring them. When Morgan was in high school, Bill spent many evening hours outside under the hood of a car the pair restored together. He and Morgan were very close, and were in contact every day.

Bill saw his son and his grandchildren as his legacy, but his family knew his love of people was just as defining. People-oriented and committed to mentoring, he made it a point to learn everyone’s name and treat all with equal respect, regardless of status.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. He is survived by his wife, Cabell; son, Morgan, and his wife, Monica, of Cape Coral; his brother, Steve Church, and his wife, Sandra, of Midlothian, Virginia; and two grandchildren, William Morgan Adams III, of Dallas, Texas, and Ryleigh Virginia Adams, of South Portland, Maine.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hargrave Military Academy.