James Allen Adams, Democratic mayor of Menasha from 1970 to 1974, was born in Menasha--the home of his parents and his grandparents. He graduated from the local high school in 1956 and from Colorado College in 1960. He then taught in public schools of all levels and continued his education at Colorado State College and at Southern Illinois University. In 1965 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served on the USS Oriskanay from 1966 through 1969, with a tour of duty in Vietnamese waters from June 1967 through February 1968.
After his release from active duty Adams returned to his home town and began teaching at an elementary school in Appleton. In 1970 he declared his candidacy for mayor of Menasha. As a newcomer to politics his strong victory over four opponents was a major upset, and the victory made him the youngest mayor in Menasha's history. Contemporary journalists characterized Adams as a strong, activist mayor. His tenure in office was particularly identified with the conversion to user fees to finance an extensive expansion of the municipal sewerage treatment plant on the Fox River and with downtown redevelopment.
Not until 1971 did Adams align himself with the Democratic Party, and although he was a leader of the Neenah-Menasha organization, many of his views, such as his strong fiscal conservatism, marked him as a party maverick. In 1972 Adams made an unsuccessful campaign for the congressional seat held by William A. Steiger. Adams was little known outside the Neenah-Menasha area, and he was unable to focus the campaign on his differences with his popular opponent. Although he had indicated that he would not seek reelection as mayor in 1974, Adams reversed his decision. He was defeated in that election by city council member Victor V. Wiecki in 1974.
