Arthur B. Adams was born in Beloit into a family that was to have a long-lasting impact on the building and betterment of their community. Arthur joins his father, Harry W. Adams, a 1966 inductee and his brother, Allan, who is also being inducted today, as a member of the Beloit Hall of Fame.

Educated in Beloit public schools, Arthur attended Beloit College and the University of Wisconsin. Following his gradu-ation he worked for one year in a Chicago Bank but then in 1929 returned to Beloit and began a banking career that span-ned the next 65 years. He joined the Beloit State Bank in 1929 as a teller and assumed its presidency in 1948. When the Beloit State Bank merged with Inland Heritage Corp. in 1967, he continued as chairman of the board and in 1985 became Honorary Chairman of the Board of the M&I Bank, Beloit. Mr. Adams maintained his office at the bank until his death.

Arthur was, along with his father and brother, a founder of the Adams Corp., manufacturer of Korn Kurls and other snack food products and served as an officer of the Flakall Corp and Dell Foods. But his primary interest was always in banking and through banking the building of Beloit. Few civic projects within this community failed to have Arthur W. Adams involved as a moving force.

A devoted Beloiter, Mr. Adams initiated numerous programs and encouraged development of Beloit and its downtown area, including a “Beloit Booster Award,” recognizing community residents for their service to Beloit. He led fund drives for the Beloit Community Chest and Stateline United Way, the Elbert H. Neese YMCA and the Beloit Historical Society. A longtime patron of Beloit College, Mr. Adams served on the board of trustees from 1951 to 1977 and was elected a Life Trustee of the college.

Among the many awards recognizing Mr. Adam’s service to Beloit was the Association of Commerce “Man of the Year” award and the JAYCEE distinguished service award. In 1990 he was granted an honorary doctor of law from Beloit College in recognition of his dedication to the college and his encouragement of its scholarship programs.

A lifelong member of the First Congregational Church, Mr. Adams served the church as both deacon and trustee for many years. A collector of works of art, Arthur was especially fond of the American Southwest. He was generous with his support of the art program of Beloit College and made loans of his extensive collection so that it could be enjoyed by everyone. Arthur B. Adams died October 23, 1994 at the age of 87. The “Beloit Booster Award” given by Mr. Adams to many proud Beloiters, read that it was given for “Services to the Greater Beloit Community which have contributed to the stature, growth and welfare of the com-munity and its people” Arthur B. Adams, banker, civic leader, family man, art collector and philanthropist is a man who was most worthy of being awarded the “Beloit Booster Award”.