grave import

Obituary

Dr. Charles Dean McAdams, Jr., Dallas, Texas 1937-2008. Promoting peace and understanding one person at a time inspired Dr. Charles McAdams to seek contact with many cultures in many settings. Recently retired from Brookhaven College in Dallas, he said, "We live in a world that is more globally oriented. At Brookhaven, the students represent 107 different countries and 87 different languages. With the help of computers and on-line classes, we can reach more people than ever before. But along with the high-tech, we need high-touch. We can't lose the human element." Dr. McAdams lectured, taught coordinated studies, telecourses, and innovative self-paced and on-line courses at the end of his career which included multiple roles in the world of education. He began his educational career in 1961 in Trumann, Arkansas, as the Band Director for the Trumann Public School District. In 1966, he entered a doctoral program at East Texas State University (Texas A&M University-Commerce) in Commerce, Texas, and as a Visiting Instructor of Music, Graduate Assistant, and Doctoral Fellow taught several courses at the university. In 1969, he became an Instructor of Music at Grayson County College in Sherman/Denison, Texas, and in 1972 was appointed the Director of the Division of Fine Arts at Grayson. In 1979, he was named the Chairman of Liberal Arts and Physical Education at Brookhaven College, where he remained actively engaged in administration and instruction, retiring as Professor of Humanities and Cultural Studies in 2008. Dr. McAdams earned a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Louisiana State University, a Master of Arts Degree from Memphis State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from East Texas State University. Charles was honored by the Dallas County Community College District with The Excellence in Teaching Award in 2000, and received the Ethics Award from Carrollton-Farmers Branch Rotary in 2006. When nominated by his peers at Brookhaven for the distinguished Minnie Stevens Piper Award for teaching excellence in Texas, he commented: "A Humanities Professor teaches about anything humans make from history to art. I love the variety of the humanities and teaching multiple subjects. It's a challenge to try and make the connections and show my students how the different subjects work together." Revered by students and peers, Professor McAdams exemplified the quiet, committed, influential, challenging educational professional who enabled and empowered all with whom he came in contact. –And wherever he was, Dr. McAdams invested civically as well as creatively: In Dallas, he was a past President of the Prestonwood Rotary Club with 25+ years of perfect attendance and had served as a District 5810 Chair of Rotary's Youth Exchange Program. He also served as a Chairman of his Neighborhood Watch program and ws active in his church wherever he lived, either as a choir director, member of his church choir, and enthusiastic organizer of musical adventure. As a member of Lovers Lane Methodist Church, he established their Dixieland Band, was a Charter Member of the Lovers Lane Jazz Band, a tenured member of the Sanctuary Choir, and served as chair of the Worship Commission and Prayer Vigil. Charles and Sue, his wife of 44 years, participated in international music festivals in England and Israel and sang in cathedrals all over the world - and he was ever the enthusiastic Dixieland trumpeter who also seldom passed up the opportunity to play his string bass whether in a jazz or classical setting. Dr. McAdams and his wife, Sue Thompson McAdams, have a son Charles Dean (Trey) McAdams, III, of Chicago, Illinois. Trey and his wife, Maurine, have two daughters, Taylor Maxine and Hayley Engel McAdams. Other family includes nephews Chuck Johnson of Forsyth, Missouri, Art Johnson of Memphis, Tennessee, Michael Johnson of Los Angeles, California, James and Diane Bonnell of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Howard and Karen Slinkard of Rogers, Arkansas, David and Judy Thompson of Trumann, Arkansas, Bob and Kathy Thompson of Saluda, North Carolina, and Tommy and Sonja Thompson of Jonesboro, Arkansas. Nieces and nephews include Ashley Slinkard Rash, Heather Slinkard Cooper, Allison Slinkard, John Paul Thompson, Leah Thompson, Paul Thompson IV, and Shaaren Thompson. He is predeceased by his parents, Charles Dean and Maxine McAdams, his sister Sandra McAdams, and an aunt, Phyllis McAdams. Funeral services are scheduled at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Rd., in Dallas, Texas, at 11:40 AM on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, with the Reverend Dr. Don Benton officiating. Memorials may be made in memory of Dr. McAdams to Lovers Lane United Methodist Church Tom Shipp Chapel Organ, the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Rotary Scholrship Fund, or The Lakeside Civic Chorus, PO Box 1201, Rockwell, Texas, 75087. Arrangements are by Dannel Funeral Home of Sherman, Texas, Thompson Funeral Home of Trumann, Arkansas, and Prugh Funeral Service of Burlington, Iowa.