Midwest native Mike Adams spent some time on the radio, but many more years shaping future broadcasters. Adams received his BA and MA from Ohio State University before arriving at San Jose State University in 1989.
He was a professor in the university’s Department of Radio, Television, and Film. Adams served as department chair and as Associate Dean of the College of Humanities and the Arts.
San Jose State’s campus radio station, KSJS, was a particular focus for Adams. The station was repeatedly named College Station of the Year under Adam’s guidance.
Adams was also responsible for producing and directing television documentaries centering on the history of radio, such as the Emmy-nominated PBS series Radio Collector and Broadcasting’s Forgotten Father, an exploration of the impact of Charles Herrold.
Adams wrote numerous scholarly articles and is the author of six books including The Radio Boys and Girls: Radio, Telegraph, Telephone and Wireless Adventures for Juvenile Readers, 1890-1945.
His legacy at the Bay Area Radio Museum and Hall of Fame’s parent organization, the California Historical Radio Society, is a rich one. Adams was deeply involved in the organization’s growth, serving as board chairman for over 25 years. He was named a CHRS History Fellow and contributed greatly to our understanding and appreciation of radio history.
Mike Adams died in 2024 at the age of 81.