On Sunday, December 17, 2006, J. Mack Adams sustained fatal injuries
during a bicycling accident in Las Cruces. He was born in Marfa, Texas on
August 14, 1933, the oldest son of Albene Hughes Adams and G.W. (Monk)
Adams, who recently preceded him in death. J. Mack is survived by his
loving wife of 55 years, Joe Ann Adams, his sons Mack and wife Theresa,
Mark and wife Karla, brother Robert Lloyd Adams and wife Lourdes,
granddaughters Natalia and Danielle Adams, grandsons Dustin and Joshua
Adams, great-granddaughter Catalina Adams and niece Jessica Adams.
J. Mack's early years were spent in Shafter, Texas. Because his father
worked for the US Corps of Engineers during World War II, J. Mack lived in
and attended school in many places in Texas and Louisiana, perhaps leading
to his love for travel. J. Mack graduated from Fabens High School in 1950.
His education was just beginning; he proceeded to earn a BS in Electrical
Engineering from Texas Western College in 1954, and his MS and Ph.D. in
Mathematics at NMSU.
After obtaining his undergraduate degree, he went to
work for Westinghouse in Pittsburgh, PA where his interest in computers
began. He worked at White Sands Missile Range as a mathematician and
technical director of Electronics Research and Development Activity. He briefly taught at Texas
Western College before beginning his long and distinguished career at
NMSU. In July 1965 he organized and directed the founding of the NMSU
Computer Center and later founded one of the country's first programs in
Computer Sciences at NMSU and was department head of Computer Sciences for
many years. He once stated his most satisfying accomplishments were
advising the college's earliest master's and doctoral degree recipients in
computer science. He later became the Associate Dean and Research Center
Director in the College of Arts and Sciences, a position from which he
retired in 1993. In addition, J. Mack had a Senior Fullbright Lectureship
in Santiago, Chile in 1972, was a visiting professor at Wolfson College,
Oxford University in 1978, and reviewed grant proposals with the National
Science Foundation in Washington DC for two years. During his career, J.
Mack produced a large number of publications including books and papers
that were published by science and mathematical organizations. He was a
strong believer in science and education, and was a member of numerous
professional organizations.
J. Mack lived an extremely active life. He was a marathon runner, running
among others, the Boston and New York Marathons. In addition, he was a
tennis player, softball player, swimmer, bicyclist, mountain climber and
participated in several mountain rescues. For many years, he was very
involved in the Senior Olympics as a participant and volunteer. Until his
death, J. Mack participated in triathlons, including the prestigious
Ironman triathlon in Hawaii in 2004; setting an example of health and an
active lifestyle to all who knew him.
J. Mack was loved, respected and appreciated by many individuals; he will
be greatly missed.