Ex-Whitworth star Adams dies at 72

Former Whitworth College basketball star Marv Adams died Tuesday at his home near Prescott, Wash.

Adams, 72, a nonsmoker, was diagnosed last fall with lung cancer.

Adams was born in Orofino, Idaho, and reared in Spokane. He was a graduate of Rogers High School. He attended Whitworth College on a basketball scholarship, graduating with a bachelor’s in education in 1957.

Adams, the fifth-leading all-time scorer for Whitworth with 1,457 points, was inducted into the Whitworth College Athletic Hall of Fame last October. He was second only to Elgin Baylor in scoring in the Northwest in his senior year.

Adams spent 37 years as a teacher, counselor, principal and administrator, including as a regional superintendent serving five counties.

Adams was the Sonoma (Calif.) County superintendent of schools from 1988-94. After retirement, Adams remained in Sonoma County for more than a decade. His wife of nearly 50 years, Patricia Adams, and he moved to her family’s ranch near Prescott more than a year ago.

He is survived by his wife; daughter Amy Adams of Issaquah, Wash.; and sons Brad Adams of Spokane and Barry Adams of Windsor, Calif.