Richard G. Adams Performing Arts Scholarship

The name of Dr. Richard (Dick) Adams was practically a household word in the early history of Thousand Oaks. That was because Dr. Adams was invited to join the fledgling faculty of California Lutheran College (CLC) at about the same time that the community of Thousand Oaks was beginning to grow into a city in the Conejo Valley. CLC opened its doors to students in 1961; Thousand Oaks became incorporated in 1964.
Dick’s rich experiences as actor, stage director, art designer and radio/television personality more than qualified him for the task of developing the college’s first drama department. And the program he established was a quality program that contributed significantly to the growing cultural vitality of the Thousand Oaks community. Dr. Adams chaired the drama department from 1965 until his retirement in 1985. Shortly after retiring he suffered a severe stroke which compromised his physical capabilities. But his love of the arts, mixed with determination and hard work, motivated him to fight his way back to productivity. One major result was his book, Arts in the Conejo, a history of the efforts of many Thousand Oaks pioneers to develop a community known for its rich cultural diversity.
The Richard G. Adams Performing Arts Scholarship is designated for a theatre arts major. The scholarship came into being through many memorial gifts made by friends and family following Dick’s death in 2006. His legacy lives on through the lives of his students and his family. Dick had two sons—James and Michael. Michael, an artist in his own right, was CLU’s director of creative media for more than 31 years, during which he made a considerable contribution to CLU’s graphic design development.