Alonzo “Lon” Adams

David Alonzo Adams was the second child of Louis Alonzo Adams and Elizabeth Rosetta Cluff. He was born in Central 6 September 1907. David Alonzo later changed his name to Alonzo David and went by the name of “Lon” as his father did before him.

Lon attended school in Central where the three R’s were taught. Once in a while a little music was taught. He remembered how his teacher, Mary Wise, sang “Flow Gently Sweet Afton” and dramatized it while leading.

Lon graduated from Gila Jr. College and A.S.T.C. in Tempe. He took his first teaching job on the Arizona Strip during the Depression. There he met his wife, Clesta Worthen. “They were married 28 May 1935. After two years, he taught in Phoenix for five years. The next five years he was Assistant County School Superintendent of Maricopa County. His children, Darryl and Dixie were born.

He then spent ten years in Bagdad as superintendent and a daughter, Cathy, was born. He became charter president of Bagdad Lions Club and one of the two District Governors of Arizona during that time. He also obtained his master’s degree from A.S.T.C. at Flagstaff.

In 1957 he moved to Marana as superintendent. In 1972 he was chosen as one of 30 U.S. administrators to serve on a AASA International Field Study to Russia. He retired in July 1973. He lost his life in a boating accident at Crescent Lake near Springerville in November 1974.

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