Samuel Hunter Adams

Samuel Hunter Adams (September 3, 1878 – December 10, 1975) was a Canadian lawyer and politician from Alberta. He was elected the 21st Mayor of Calgary in 1920, serving as mayor for three years.

Early life Samuel Hunter Adams was born on September 3, 1878, near Dundas, Ontario, to Samuel and Mary J. Adams (née Loughery). Adams attended public school in West Flamborough and high school in Dundas, and later moved to Manitoba in 1897 where he attended Normal School and later taught school. He entered Manitoba College in 1902 and completed a Bachelor of Arts in 1906 and subsequently moved to Calgary later in fall that year. Adams was acclaimed in the 1921 Calgary municipal election, and decided not to contest the 1922 election for health reasons.

As Mayor, Adams' biggest challenge was handling Calgary's extensive unemployment after the First World War, including the rise of labour unions and civil unrest. During this time there was considerable animosity throughout the city which culminated in threats to elected officials and a bomb threat on Calgary City Hall in March 1922. This culminated in the morning of March 28, 1922, with a prank orchestrated by Calgary Herald writer Chief Buffalo Child Long Lance, where he threw a fake bomb into an active meeting attended by Adams, other Aldermen and city employees. Everyone in attendance rushed out of the meeting, and Commissioner Smith jumped through the closed window 12 feet above the ground. Long Lance, a popular figure in Calgary was fired by the Calgary Herald after the incident and leave the city afterwards.

Adams was instrumental in the approval and construction of Imperial Oil's Lynnview Ridge refinery in Calgary, a CA$2.5 million project. The refinery operated until the 1970s, after which a residential neighbourhood was constructed on the grounds.

On May 18, 1922, Adams gave the first radio broadcast in Calgary on CHCB station at Crescent Heights. The program began with the Harry Lauder recording of "Roamin' in the Gloamin'", and after some more music and sports, Adams gave a speech to Calgarians.

Later life Samuel Hunter Adams retired from municipal politics in 1923. He practised law in Calgary with the firm Adams, Fitch and Arnold until his retirement in 1955, when he moved to Saltspring Island in British Columbia.

He died on December 10, 1975, and was buried at Union Cemetery in Calgary on December 15, 1975.