Kenneth S Adams Jr

The controlling interest of the Titans was divided evenly among the three children of Bud Adams after he died in 2013. Son-in-law Tommy Smith was named president and CEO, while Adams' daughters, Susie Adams Smith and Amy Adams Hunt, became co-chairmen. K.S. "Bud" Adams, Jr., age 90, Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers founder, passed away peacefully at his home on the 21st of October 2013 in Houston, Texas. Born January 3, 1923 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to K.S. "Boots" Adams and Blanch Keeler Adams. Bud attended Culver Military Academy and Menlo College, where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. Bud then transferred to the University of Kansas where he lettered in football for the Jayhawks. During his days at KU, Bud met his future wife, Nancy Neville, and also began his lifelong and loyal affiliation with Sigma Chi Fraternity. In 1947 while still at KU, Bud joined the Naval Reserve. He earned his Navy ensign commission and was sent overseas where he was assigned to a PAC-Fleet Carrier unit, where he served as an aviation engineering officer. In 1946, Bud parlayed a chance stop in Houston, resulting from fog that grounded his plane, into a highly successful and diversified business empire, which ranks him among the most prominent businessmen of the country. That same year, Bud started ADA Oil Company, the forerunner of the now publicly-held NYSE - MKT listed Adams Resources & Energy, Inc., an energy company engaged in the business of marketing crude oil, transportation of liquid chemicals, along with oil and gas exploration and production. Bud's other interests included extensive farming and ranching, real estate, and automobile dealerships. Bud was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Adams and son, Kenneth S. Adams III. He is survived by daughters, Susie Adams Smith and husband Tommy, Amy Adams Hunt and husband Bill; seven grandchildren, Stuart Smith, Nancy Smith, Tracy Thompson, Tommy Thompson, Blanche Strunk, Kenneth Adams IV and wife Amy, and Barclay Adams; and extended family, Susan and Steve Lewis, Steve Adams, Kenneth Adams, Gary Adams, Stephanie Walthall and Lisa Stinson.