Wilburn Josh Adams Scholarship

The late Wilburn “Josh” Adams, former postmaster in Rockland, Idaho, gifted Idaho State University with $110,578 from his estate, which will fund at least four full-fee scholarships for students in the College of Business, announced Kathy Ellis, interim director of the ISU Foundation.
Adams, an ISU alumnus, was born June 18, 1915, to Charles and Josephine Adams, and his parents divorced when he was a child. He was raised by his mother in Rockland where he spent his entire life except the years he spent in the military during World War II.

He graduated from Rockland High School in 1934 and majored in Business at ISU, graduating in 1936. He joined the Army in 1942 and served as a clerk-typist on a hospital ship until his honorable discharge at the rank of corporal in 1946. He became a charter member of the Logan Ewing Post of the American Legion, created in Rockland in 1946 and remained active in that organization or 45 years. He returned to Rockland and became the postmaster in 1950. He received his appointment by letter from President Harry S. Truman and served as postmaster until his retirement in 1990, rarely taking any time off. He was 75 years old at the time of his retirement.

Adams never married and faithfully cared for his mother until her death in 1987. Although he had no children of this own, he was always interested in the events at Rockland School and knew every child in the valley — no one ever had to worry that the postman didn’t know who they were if they received a letter! He kept track of all the athletic teams and took great pride in the accomplishments of the Rockland School students.

During his lifetime he contributed generously to numerous organizations, including ISU, the Idaho Youth Ranch, the Salvation Army, the Humane Society and the Rockland LDS Church and the Rockland Congregational Church. He loved animals and was particularly fond of cats. Stray cats knew there would be food and a warm spot under his porch, and when Adams became ill prior to his death, his major concern was for the cats.

Adams died April 11, 1991, without realizing how much money he had amassed since he had saved nearly every cent he had earned. The bulk of his estate was left to the ISU College of Business, the Idaho Youth Ranch, Rockland School, and the City of Rockland. He also left smaller gifts to the LDS Rockland Missionary Fund, and two couples who had been close friends for many years. “The generosity of this quiet man who lived such an unpretentious life will live on through the gifts he left in his will.” stated the personal representative of his estate.
Pocatello, Idaho January 1993