After 38 years in the AISD and 15 as Colt-in-Chief, James is entering his well-deserved retirement. James served as teacher, counselor and administrator at four AISD schools before taking the helm at AHS. His steady leadership has steered the students and staff through significant changes: the addition of the freshman class to campus; the growth of the student body to just under 3,000; the various building expansions to accommodate the additional 1,000 students.

Arlington High School felt like a home to so many because Mr. Adams’ compassion for his students and his staff made us feel like a family.”

Both of his daughters graduated from AHS and the first diploma he ever handed out was to Melissa Adams. Both daughters—Melissa and Jennifer—teach in elementary schools in the AISD. James’ wife Barbara—a premier teacher at Hill Elementary—joins James in retirement.

After a period of rapid changeover in the principal’s office, James provided stability and a genuine love for Arlington High. He improved his faculty; initiated the International Baccalaureate program; remained unflappable in times of difficulty. He kept AHS open to transfer students as long as possible each year so the school could draw from students all over town who want to experience what it means to be a Colt. Often that has been as many as 700 students, who, like James, are Colts By Choice. He is an energetic, smart, visionary educator who nurtured Colt Spirit, Pride and Tradition.

He is one reason it is still sweet to be in Colt Country.

After receiving an electrical engineering degree from SMU, James worked for Rockwell International/Collins Radio as project engineer and program manager for projects in Alaska, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S.

An active supporter of both AHS and UTA, James has served on the AHS Alumni Association Board of Directors and has entrusted his children and grandchildren to AHS: Sons Steve, ’74, and Douglas, ’81, stepdaughters Judy Ramsey Snodgrass, ’74, Jana Ramsey Lewis, ’81, grandchildren James Ditto, ’96, John Ditto, ’99, Candice Ditto, ’01, and Kelsey Snodgrass, ’04.

In addition, James has served on the UTA Alumni Board, Development Board, Finance Committee and Athletic Council. He is past president of the Mid-Cities Technical Club at UTA. His other civic endeavors include working with the American Cancer Society by lobbying groups in Austin and Washington for research funds and smoke-free designations. He has served the city of Arlington on a planning committee which set landscaping standards for builders and developers. He serves as an elder of First Presbyterian Church where he has been a member for 65 years.

Even with all these commitments, he saves time for his favorite hobbies—golf and reading.

Their connections with Arlington High School span a number of generations because of their families’ long-term residency in Arlington. Martha’s great-grandmother Collins (as in Collins Street) was an original settler of the Webb community with her farm where Highway 360 crosses Mayfield Road. Her grandmother Hannah Shaw owned and operated Jean’s Café on Main Street (across from Rockyfellers). Her mother Louine Lowe Wiggins was a member of the Class of 1942. Alvin has history here, too, where his dad laid most of the pipeline in the area. Alvin’s work on those pipeline projects, even as a youngster, led to his driving a tractor while still in elementary school. With pride, Alvin admits he got his first ticket when he was 11!

The Moseleys reconnected to AHS when their sons, Rob, ’88, and Andy, ’91, attended. Since the boys were active in football and soccer, respectively, the Moseleys’ alumni status shifted to that of boosters.

Since then, they have been actively involved in both their classes, helping to organize their classes’ reunions and in maintaining connections. In 2005, they began serving on the AHS Alumni Board of Directors as Reunion Representatives charged with alerting classes to the existence of the Alumni Association and to encourage membership. As Jo McGovern says, “They have both spent many, many hours spreading the AHS Spirit.”

They relinquished that directorship this year when they learned they will be leaving Arlington in December for a year’s residency in New Burn, North Carolina where Alvin’s work requires him to go. Although they eagerly anticipate life in a new community for a change, they know this is temporary and that returning home to their many family members and friends is on a not-too-distant horizon.

One plan for the summer is a trip to Dearborn, Michigan in their red, 1948 Ford F1 truck—a purchase they flew to Florida to retrieve a few years ago and then drove home to Arlington.

Good luck, Alvin and Martha, on the way to Dearborn and in your year away from home.