A familiar face in the Rogue Valley and around the state passed away on Monday at the age of 70. Brady Adams, a former state senator and a friend to many leaves behind a legacy both physical and emotional as an entire community mourns his loss.
“It was that selflessness, that passion that philanthropy.” commented one man who’s worked with Adams over the years since his vision of the Tap Rock Northwest Grill opened.
Brady Adams is described by many as giving and creative. A man who always put families and children before anything else. Adams passed away on Monday after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease but those close to the Grants Pass man say he never let his illness control his ambitions.
Jeff Hyde Evergreen President.
“The first words that come to mind is that he’s one of a kind. He had a real ability to laugh at himself.” Hyde said.
As president of Evergreen Federal Bank in Grants Pass from 1988 until he retired in 2010 Adams was always giving back.
“He was all about rolling up his sleeves and one of the biggest volunteer/services is serving eight years in the Oregon senate.” remarked Jeff Hyde, who took over as Evergeen Federal’s president when Adam’s retired.
Oregon Rep. Carl Wilson (R-OR)
“When he was Senate President I was just a raw rookie over here on the House side.
He didn’t look at his opponents as enemies. He was always a real statesman and that’s something I wish we’d see more of today.” Wilson said.
Adams was the brains behind much of the iconic images of Grants Pass. The bears on nearly every street corner & even Tap Rock Northwest Grill.
“It goes far beyond tap rock and evergreen park as we look at the bear hotel and the events that he did, but in his plight to make Grants Pass the best river town in America.”
Explained Terry Hopkins who has known Adams since a young teen.
Dave Thomason/ Owner, Tap Rock Northwest Grill
“He was Mr. Grants Pass. He always had that ability to connect with people on a personal level.” Thomason said.
Even as his battle with Parkinsons became more difficult in recent years, Adams was undaunted. Brady walked from Grants Pass to Ashland to raise money for the non-profit Blue Slide Project.
Jeff Hyde Evergreen Federal Bank
“At one time I think he served on 20 different non profit boards and it wasn’t as a placeholder on the board but as a leader.”
While friends, family and the community remember Adams for his selfless efforts he leaves behind a lasting legacy that won’t be going away anytime soon.
Dave Thomason/TapRock Northwest Grill
” The bears you see on the street, the murals you see around Christmas time, a lot of things in the community that we’ve done here are from his creative mind.
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