Hall of Fame
Arno A. Adams is a proud son of Turner Station Maryland. After graduating from Baltimore’s Dunbar High School, Mr. Adams entered Morgan State University, beginning a lifelong relationship with the institution from which he would earn his undergraduate degree.
While Mr. Adams may not have any championships or athletic records to his personal credit, he has been a part of every athletic championship the Morgan State University athletic program has won in the last six decades. For over fifty years, Mr. Adams has served as the Head Equipment Manager for the athletics department, a position he served in as faithfully from when he first began in 1957. As the department’s first and only full-time staff equipment manager, he ensured that every Morgan athlete has a clean, freshly pressed game or practice uniform ready in their locker along with all of the requisite equipment for his/her respective sport.
Mr. Adams served during the Eddie P. Hurt and Earl C. Bank eras, the transition from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division-II to Division-I level, and the current “resurgence” era.
In the words of current Varsity “M” Club Athletic Hall of Fame member Jack Dennis, who was greatly influenced by Mr. Adams during his time as a Morgan athlete, “when Arno leaves, the University is going to have to bring in three to four people to replace him. He works seven days a week and is a priceless entity.” The love and support Mr. Adams has given to give to the Morgan State University athletic program and its student-athletes is immeasurable. Without question, he has left an indelible mark on not only the great athletic heritage of Morgan State University, but also on the lives of countless young men and women that have been so honored to wear a Morgan State athletic uniform.
Mr. Adams’ total commitment and overall contribution to Morgan State athletics cannot be disputed. He currently resides in Baltimore, MD, with his wife Peggy. He is the proud father of son Arno A. Adams, Jr., daughter Sharon Adams and step-daughter Donna Penzel.
