INDUCTED: October 6, 1918
PRESENTED: March 17, 2019
Gary Dean Adams was born in northwest Van Wert County, Ohio in the “big” town of Wetzel on December 13, 1936 to Wendell Adams and Nellie (Miller) Adams.
OHIO BACKGROUND
Gary lives in Van Wert, Ohio
LIFE & HISTORICAL EVENTS
Gary married Barbara Dougal on April 21, 1957 and they have 3 children, 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
He remains actively involved as a member of the Trinity Friends Church where he has served as song leader, member of the Administrative Council, and member of Stewardship and Finance Commissions.
A farmer by trade, Gary retired from farming around 2013.
He officiated high school basketball for about 30 years and was later involved in the Upwards Basketball Program
In 2002, after a tornado struck and destroyed a local movie theater, Gary along with two others, was presented “The First Storm, Ready Community Hero Award” for establishing the Stormready Program which allowed for the ushering of moviegoers to safety after hearing the warning.
In 2009, Gary supported Issue #2 and the creation of the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to provide animal care standards based on comprehensive analysis by knowledgeable Ohioans.
Gary served as Township Trustee for over 12 years and in 2012, after twenty-eight years, the longest tenure in county history on the job, as county commissioner Gary Adams stepped down. Gary had served Van Wert County since 1985. When he came in, he was serving with “elderly gentlemen“, now he was the elderly gentleman. A few of the highlights of his career was starting the solid waste division, building the correctional facility and redecorating the dome in the courthouse. Adams says, “the thing he will miss most is working with the people of Van Wert.” He says, “it’s a job of sometimes making tough decisions and you can’t please everybody.” He has this advice for the people coming after him. “Don’t make hasty decisions and do your own research.” Adams plans to spend his free time with his wife and singing with a gospel group.
GOSPEL MUSIC MINISTRY
Gary was exposed to gospel music as a young child traveling with his parents as they sang at many churches and revivals. His mother was quite an accomplished pianist and was the accompanist for his dad, Wendell Adams, who sang with Gary’s uncle Carl Miller in the Ambassador Quartet. Growing up in this environment was the start of Gary’s music career as he often traveled with the group and has slept on many church pews. Later when Uncle Carl and Howard were called to serve the Lord as full-time pastors, the group disbanded.
Gary began singing in high school and in 1957, shortly after marrying a young girl named Barbara, Gary began singing with his mother Nellie Adams and his mother-in-law, Lorene Unland in a trio named the Zionaires. They sang throughout Ohio for many years until Gary’s mother, Nellie Adams, and his mother-in-law, Lorene Unland, decided to retire to warmer weather. His mother later told him he had been given the gift of singing and needed to find a group and sing with it.
In 1982, feeling a call from the Lord, Gary, along with Steve Placke and Terry Amstutz, formed a trio called Trinity. When Steve later left to answer his call as a full-time minister, Scott Fleming and Chuck Dunham joined the group. Both Scott and Chuck had grown up singing in family groups, and for a short stint, Trinity was a male quartet. Soon the Lord was working again as Scott felt the call to change his ministry and also became a full-time pastor. It was at that time that Trinity added the first female singer to the group as Betty Dunno, who had previously sung with Terry Amstutz, joined the mix. The group was referred to as the Trinity Quartet at this time. As often happens in gospel groups, people come and go, and as Terry Amstutz was led to step down from the group, Kyan Rinner joined for a new mixed quartet sound. Within a few years, Betty also decided to follow a solo ministry, and she was replaced with Pam Smith. It was during this time that the group recorded their first Roger Talley–produced project entitled, “He is the Reason We Sing.” Soon after the release of this project, Kyan decided to step down as she was pursuing her doctorate degree in psychology. Then in 1994, Kim Mason was asked to take Kyan’s place. Kim’s father had been Gary’s pastor, and she was a friend of his children. She had sung as a soloist for many years, had been a member of the Youth for Christ Contemporaries in high school, and majored in vocal music at Defiance College. In 1995, when Chuck decided to step down to spend more time with his family, Trinity decided to remain a trio. In 1999, Cheryl Burk joined Trinity and this mix of Gary, Kim, and Cheryl has been together almost ten years. Cheryl had previously sung with her family known as the Hunters of Glenmore. She later had a duet ministry with her sister Pam Peters. They initiated Cheryl quickly as her first performance with the group was a live television program.
In 1984 they made their first serious recording at Gaither Studio in Alexandria, Indiana with Roger Byrd as producer. “We went to the old barn, the Gaither studio before they built the new studio in Anderson,” Adams remembered. “We did our first recording there. Then we went to Nashville and did two with Roger Talley. Now we’ve done three with John Darin Rowsey.”
Current members, Gray Adams, Kim Mason and Cheryl Burk, have been ministering since 1998. Gary says, “I always kid about how difficult it was singing with two older women, but it really was very nice. My mother always prayed that I would continue to sing with a new group. She said, ‘You don’t want to be singing with old people.’ So now the old man is singing with two young girls.”
For many years, the group gave between 30 or 40 concerts per year. That number has risen to over 100 concerts the past two years. The group has traveled as far as Florida, sang on several cruises, and sang for the Van Wert County Apple Festival and the Salvation Army Gospel Harvest Festival.
In 2001, Gary took part in the development of the Southern Gospel Music Expo which has been held annually. Held at the Trinity Friends Church in Van Wert, Ohio, this event started out as a two night event featuring 12 groups. It has now developed into a four (4) night event hosts approximately 30 groups annually including a long list of well-known gospel artists such as the Booth Brothers, Dallas Holmes, Greater Vision, Guardians, Hoppers, Imperials, Jim Brady Trio, Karen Peck & New River, Mark Lowry, Pfeifers, Triumphant and the Talleys.
Through the years Trinity has recorded 12 CDs
Gary has served on the board of WTLW channel 44, a Christian broadcasting television network and WYGN Christian radio both from Lima, Ohio.
Gary has been instrumental in the promotion of gospel music as part of the Labor Day event held at the Van Wert County Fair
“One thing we can say is that God always meets our needs,” added Adams. “When He calls us to sing, He is faithful to seeing that it happens.”
“When we go from place to place, I love to meet with pastors,” said Adams. “Sometimes they have an empty feeling in their hearts and we are able to pray with them.”
A story to remember: In 1999 Cheryl Burk joined Trinity and one of her early performances was very eventful. Pam Smith was still traveling with the group to give Cheryl a chance to learn all of the music. The group was in the basement of a small church before the concert, and going to the restroom, Pam became stuck in the ladies’ restroom and couldn’t get out. The pastor had given Gary the signal that they were ready to start, and there was no Pam. Then Cheryl heard Pam pounding on the restroom door and let the group know that she thought Pam was stuck. When Pam tried to pull on the door, the doorknob came off in her hand. Gary and several men from the church were working on the door and telling her to kick it, not thinking that she was in high heels and a dress! The sanctuary was full of people, and soon you could hear the laughter floating down into the basement. Finally, some old farmer who had come to church in his pickup said, “I will get a crowbar, sir, and we’ll get that door off of there.” Eventually they ripped the hinges right off the door, and Pam was able to make her exit. The crowd continued to laugh for about fifteen minutes as Trinity tried to change the mood of the service.
Life on the road is never dull for Trinity.
Gary has always been willing to take someone along with the group who wanted to sing for the Lord in any way. Concerning the current group, Gary says, “I really appreciate Kim and Cheryl. These girls are such a great bunch to sing with. One has been with me 12 years and the other 18 years. Kim’s dad was my pastor, and Cheryl and her husband Stan came to be friends when they started coming to Trinity Friends Church. I think the growth I have seen out of our ministry is very solid and we praise the Lord for that. My wife always says, ‘Keep these girls as they’re the best of the best.’ So when your wife tells you that, that means something, doesn’t it?”
Gary always seeks to involve the audience wherever the group sings. He desires to provide special attention to the children and l loves to give them dollar bills. Cheryl and Kim often stand in line but are always forced to walk away empty-handed.
SONGS / AWARDS / RECOGNITION
Gary is known for his rendition of the song, The Lighthouse.
Some claim that Gary is known as a practical joker and has a sense of humor. But as we’ve often heard, “What comes around goes around.” Gary was singing his signature song, “The Lighthouse” at a Methodist church in Columbus. As he moved back into position after his solo, he fell through a trapdoor in the floor. He finished the song with just his feet and head showing! The sound man was laughing so hard he had to leave the room.