AUBURN — William R. Adams Jr., 89, of Auburn, passed away peacefully at his home at Schooner Estates in Auburn on Tuesday, Jan. 16. He was born in Lewiston on Dec 11, 1928. He was educated in Lewiston schools, graduating from Lewiston High School in 1947. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 140 and became an Eagle Scout in 1943. He was accepted into the Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and attended the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in 1951. He served active duty aboard the minesweeping ship, the Ellyson, until 1954. After active duty, he served in the Naval Reserve for 23 years and retired, holding the rank of commander. In 1950 he married the former Billie Whittle, of Orangeburg, S.C., and had a strong and happy marriage of 59 years.

After a brief employment with Central Maine Power Company, he was employed by the City of Lewiston as assistant city engineer and later promoted to city engineer. He went on to become the director of Public Works for the City of Lewiston, and was instrumental in forming the Lewiston Water Pollution Control Authority, serving as the first chairman of the Authority.

In 1969 he became the first director of the Maine Environmental Improvement Commission, which later became the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, serving as the first commissioner. In 1977, he became the regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the New England states. In 1980 he accepted a position with E.C. Jordan, where he was responsible for marketing hazardous waste engineering projects. He retired from the company in 1992.

He is survived by his four children: Constance Irland and her husband, Lloyd, of Wayne, W. Ray Adams and his wife, Lynne, of Greene, Carl Adams and his wife, Martha, of Lewiston, and Kay Allcroft and her husband, Kevin, of Orrington; as well as 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Billie, in 2010; and his brother, David E. Adams.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Schooner Estates, as well as Nicole Sylvester, Sandra Dube and all his caregivers.

Condolences may be shared with his family at www.thefortingroupauburn.com.

William R. Adams Jr.