Bob Adams

Robert Bruce Adams (born August 15, 1946) is an American former professional football tight end in the National Football League (NFL) and a spokesperson for the Church of Scientology International. He attended El Camino High School during the 1960s, and was encouraged by a coach at the College of San Mateo to play football. He played for a single season at the college, during 1966, while participating in other sports at the school including track-and-field and basketball. A former coach of the College of San Mateo, Doug Scovil, recruited Adams to the College of the Pacific, where he received a full scholarship to play football there. By 1968, he was captain of the team's offense at the school.

He was not drafted by the National Football League, and was signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he played under coach Chuck Noll. In 1973 while a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Adams became a Scientologist. He said applying Scientology methodology helped his performance playing football. After seven years with the National Football League, Adams finished his pro-career as a member of the Atlanta Falcons. He subsequently took up other professions, including owning a fitness center in Redwood City, California, being a consultant for high tech companies, and working as a teacher.

In 2004, Adams served within the Scientology organization as senior vice president of its Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE), a nonprofit founded by Scientology members in 1988 to supervise the secular programs Narconon, Criminon, The Way to Happiness, and Applied Scholastics. By 2006 he had become a media executive and vice president of the Church of Scientology, and worked out of the organization's facilities in Hollywood. He represented the Church of Scientology at the 2006 conference of the Religion Newswriters Association in Utah. Adams held the position of vice president of public affairs for the Church of Scientology International in 2009, and was a Reverend within the organization. He traveled to Melbourne, Australia, in December 2009 for the World Religions Conference. He continued to serve as vice president of the Church of Scientology International in 2010, and was one of four officials listed as spokespersons for the church.

Early life and education Robert Bruce Adams was born August 15, 1946, in Stockton, California. He attended El Camino High School during the 1960s, and quit playing American football during his senior year at the school, due to his small stature. After high school, he went to College of San Mateo, and a coach named Stu Carter noticed Adams while he was weight lifting at the college. He played in 42 games, starting 17, for the Steelers from 1969 to 1971. He became a member of the Church of Scientology in 1973. He played in 25 games, starting 12, for the Patriots from 1973 to 1974.

Scientology official ABLE senior vice president After finishing his career with the National Football League, Adams took up multiple other professions. In 2004, Adams served as senior vice president of the Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE), a nonprofit founded by Scientology members in 1988 to supervise the secular programs Narconon, Criminon, The Way to Happiness, and Applied Scholastics. In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Adams objected to an assessment that international Scientology management ran the subdivisions of ABLE. He represented the Church of Scientology at the 2006 conference of the Religion Newswriters Association in Utah, and participated in a panel discussion called, "Faiths That Don't Fit: Classifying and Reporting on 'Other' Churches". Adams discussed the Scientology policy of "fair game" in a 2008 interview with The Times: "That policy (of fair game) was yanked very quickly. As in any organisation made up of lots of people, some will be internal renegades, if you will. Those people paid the price. And those days are over now."

In 2008, Adams served as vice president of the Church of Scientology International. When asked in a January 2008 interview with The New Yorker about the Scientology story involving a galactic ruler named Xenu, Adams responded, "A small fraction of our scriptures are confidential, and I don't want to allude to something confidential." He asserted that the controversial Scientology program the "Rehabilitation Project Force" (RPF) was a "volunteer program for self-improvement".

Spokesperson He held the position of vice president of public affairs for the Church of Scientology International in 2009, and was a Reverend within the organization. Adams traveled to Melbourne, Australia, in December 2009 for the World Religions Conference. He commented, "One way to measure that is how law enforcement responds to any of these allegations. There has been no interest because there has been no evidence. Apostates are not credible witnesses, like former spouses or employees - they are trying to find a reason why they departed."

In July 2010 the Church of Scientology International publicized a "Scientology Newsroom" website tailored for members of the media; Adams was one of four international representatives for Scientology listed as "Spokespersons". Adams served as vice president of the Church of Scientology International in 2010. In his role as Scientology spokesman, he commented to The Seattle Times in August 2010 that critical articles including revelations from former members published in that year by the St. Petersburg Times of Florida were "based on lies by 'apostates' who want to see the church fail".

Personal life Adams's first child was born December 8, 1971. In 1972, Adams and his wife Marilyn resided with their baby son in Pittsburgh; they had a house in Bethel Park. In 2006, Adams was divorced, and had one child.