Willam Alexander Adams ’39

Bill died of pulmonary edema March 20, 2007, at Northridge Hospital in Northridge, Calif.

A physics major, Bill did postgraduate work in guided-missile and digital techniques at UCLA. During his career, he was primarily an engineer program manager on radar, guided missiles, and spacecraft for RCA and TRW. He participated as manager of communications in the design and development of the first man-made object to leave the solar system — the Pioneer 10 spacecraft. In retirement, he was involved in home computer activities, principally in computerized genealogy. Starting with his great-great-great-grandparents, he traced more than 2,000 of their descendants.

Bill and his wife, Anne, were divorced. She survives as do their four children, a daughter and three sons, and two granddaughters. We extend our sincere sympathy to them.