Dexter Curtis Adams was born 26 Aug 1955, the seventh of nine children of Mattie Rae and Milton Adams. He attended school in Detroit, MI, and graduated from Southeastern High School, At achieving the rank of Cadet Colonel in Junior ROTC he commanded units of 17 Public High Schools. He was a member of the National Honor Society, played on the football and tennis teams, and was a Boys State Delegate.

D.C. was one of the first African Ameri­cans to attend West Point from Michigan. He displayed leadership and a commitment to “Duty, Honor, Country” as a cadet, start­ing with his days at the USMA Preparatory School at Ft. Belvoir, VA, en route to Beast Barracks and the 4th New Cadet Company.

During Plebe Parent Week, D.C. assisted in a presentation on minorities at West Point entitled, “Shades of Gray,” was a member of the Cadet Gospel Choir, and attended Jungle School while in Panama for Cadet Troop Leadership Training during the sum­mer of 1976.

For four years, as a member of the Lightweight Football and indoor and out­door track teams, he was a multiple letter winner. D.C. was an outstanding player on the Lightweight (now Sprint) Football Team. As a second classman on the undefeated 1976 championship team, he was the leading rush­er and was selected as captain of the offense during his final year. First and foremost, D.C. was a leader, whom teammates, classmates and others would follow anywhere.

Adorned with the number “22,” which was synonymous with speed, D.C. lived up to the reputation, in football, track, and in life. He accomplished twice that of normal athletes through hard work, determination and passion for excellence. But in the race of life, D.C. would always stop to assist his classmates, family, and friends. He wanted to win every competition, but he knew that winning required teamwork. He dedicated much time to motivating those around him.

D.C. was an inspiration to all. From his football locker room pep talks to his mo­tivating chants to inspire the entire Corps of Cadets. He was a true leader...pure, natural, and motivating. His outlook on life was always positive. At halftime in a close game, with our team slightly ahead, D.C. said: “On any given Sunday, any team in the NFL can be beat, but today is Friday, so we’re going to win...let’s get out there and beat these guys!” He made up nicknames for all of his friends and athletes, and his teammates affectionately called him “Drac.” Nicknames stay with us, even 30 years later. D.C. joked, inspired, but most of all...he led winning teams.

D.C. was commissioned as an Infantry officer and graduated on 7 Jun 1978. After infantry training at Ft. Benning, GA, he was assigned to A Company, 3rd Battalion, 11th Infantry, 5th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Ft. Polk, LA, as a rifle platoon leader and, later, a company executive officer. He served a tour with the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea. He also competed on the All-Army Track Team. In 1983, D.C. attended flight school and graduated first in his class. He served four years as a captain in army aviation, including company command in the 2nd Squadron, 10th Cavalry, in the 7th Infantry Division at Ft. Ord, CA.

In 1987, D.C. left the Army to pursue a career with Procter & Gamble. He settled in Cincinnati, OH, where he received sev­eral promotions. D.C.’s contribution to the Cincinnati community went far beyond his career at Procter & Gamble. His lively spirit and ability to bring groups together made him a leader for all. Of particular note were the gatherings D.C. hosted that were renowned for their ability to attract people from several hundred miles away. D.C. also helped and mentored classmates and other West Pointers in their transition to the private sector.

D.C. was a loving husband and de­voted father. He was married to Angela A. Johnson of Woodbridge, VA, and they had a daughter Ayrenne and a son Dexter, Jr. He was never shy about telling one and all that he loved his wife and children. He was an active member of the Southern Missionary Baptist Church and the Cincinnati com­munity. He continued involvement with West Point, working with minority recruit­ing. He extended his interest in educational opportunities for all by establishing scholar­ships for minority students to attend private schools. D.C. had a life-long love of tennis and became an official for the United States Tennis Association. He worked his way up and officiated matches at the U.S. Open.

D.C. died tragically in a plane crash out­side the Detroit airport on 9 Jan 1997 and was laid to rest at the West Point Cemetery. Stunned by his untimely death, classmates and teammates wanted to pay tribute to D.C.’s special nature and share it with West Point and the Sprint Football Team. As an indication of how much D.C. was loved and admired, they established the D.C. Adams Memorial Award, with the first award pre­sented at the end of the 1999 Season. This award, presented at graduation to the out­standing second classman on the team, is only the second Memorial Award named for an African-American graduate. After the 2004 Sprint Football season, to honor and remember D.C.’s magnificent spirit and to commemorate five years of the Memorial Award, classmates and teammates started the D.C. Adams Memorial Fund to support the Sprint Football Team. In 2005, the fund donated a state-of-the-art video system to the team D.C. loved.

Dexter Curtis “D.C.” Adams displayed leadership and commitment to “Duty, Honor, Country” as a cadet, an Army offi­cer, and a citizen. His infectious smile and positive attitude is sorely missed. He would be pleased to know that his life continues to inspire the Sprint Football Team and the Corps of Cadets.

—Darryl Mobley, Dave Odegard, Jon Brundage, Sanford Holman, Tom Bostick, Curtis Harris, classmates