Former Chief Project Engineer, FMC Central Engineering Laboratory
Bill Adams was born in California. He graduated BSME magna cum laude and Nobili medal from Santa Clara University in 1937. He started his diversified career at General Electric Company in Schenectady, New York. After engineer-in-training assignments and advanced courses, he took leave of absence from GE to design earth-moving scrapers and controls at Gar Wood Industries in Detroit. At the onset of World War II Mr. Adams returned to GE in 1940 as design and later chief project engineer for the first remote-controlled gun turrets for the B-29 and for other high altitude aircraft.
In 1946, Bill Adams came back to the Bay Area and joined Food Machinery Corporation, now FMC. During a 34-year career with FMC his positions included Chief Engineer for the Bolens Division in Wisconsin for tractors, mowers and other heavy equipment; Assistant General Manager FMC Central Engineering Laboratories in Santa Clara for advanced machinery R&D of widely diversified products; and Director of New Business Ventures and technology licensing.
Since 1980, Mr. Adams has been a registered mechanical and agricultural engineering consultant. He has actively supported his profession, alma mater and the community. He is a Life Member of ASME and SAE and a Life Fellow of ASAE. He served as President of the Santa Clara Valley Engineering Council, delegate to the Silicon Valley Engineering Council, Director of the local Council Boy Scouts of America, Chairman of the United Way industry campaign, etc. Awards include the 1980 ASME Centennial Medal and the 1993 ASME Distinguished Service Award. He has received a number of awards from the Santa Clara University including the 1991 Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award.
Mr. Adams is the author of a number of technical papers and two books. He was granted 12 U.S. patents and 15 foreign patents.
