Holding J.V. Adams in his arms after J.V. fell off his horse tending cattle on the family ranch in Cedar City, Utah, Don Adams felt the overwhelming sense of helplessness.

Not knowing what to do for his beloved grandfather except comfort him, Adams began to realize what his life calling just might be.

“I don’t ever again want to be in a place where I can’t help a person,” Adams said with a sour look on his face, almost seeing the painful memory flash before his eyes.

Grandfather Adams slipped into a coma that day nearly 28 years ago and later passed away, leaving the Adams family heartbroken.

Although a tragic beginning to the road Adams follows to this day is still painful, the rest of his chosen path has the highlights of a man dedicated to helping others within the community.

A pole vaulter and football player for Hanford High, Adams attended the University of Southern Utah to pursue a degree in computer science in 1981.

In 1984 after graduation, Adams used his grandfather’s memory for motivation, along with a small skiing accident, and attended Palmer College, a chiropractic school in Iowa.

Adams quickly took to the profession, especially after the skiing accident gave him that feeling of helplessness again.

“A friend of mine knew a chiropractor and he fixed me. I went right back to skiing competitively and that’s when I knew what direction I could go to help people,” Adams said.

Finishing the course work in record time, Adams moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., to practice for Tom Toia Chiropractic in the beginning of 1987.

At the end of 1988, Adams and his wife at the time, Stephanie [the two have since divorced], moved to Sedona where he would work for Hugh Ilstrop Chiropractic.

Shortly after, Adams took over the business and later named it Adams Chiropractic, which is now located in West Sedona.

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Adams is widely known for his work with Sedona Red Rock High as an unofficial team doctor.

Since SRRHS opened in 1994, Adams has been a part of every football team to date, helping hundreds of kids with their injuries and being a part of their young lives.

“I enjoy working with the young people in our community, watching boys grow up and become young men. I enjoy watching these athletes move on in their lives and become productive members of the community,” Adams said.

A man who doesn’t normally talk much, Adams opened up the flood gates in response to questions of his experiences and stories he might have of SRRHS athletics as we sat at a local pub over a drink.

Nearly an hour and a half later, Adams looked up and said with a big smile, “I can’t believe I have so many stories, so many memories.”

Of course, many of the tales are not suited for print, but Adams was reminded by them why he does what he does.

Seen on the sidelines of almost every home football game, Adams also began working with the boys basketball program in the late 1990s.

Eventually, Adams’ oldest daughter Loren was old enough to attend SRRHS and played basketball.

Adams traveled everywhere with the team, even to places like Parker and River Valley, a mere four hours away from Sedona.

Seeing Loren through high school and donating his time as team doctor, his youngest daughter Katie came up next and was not only a basketball player, but a volleyball player as well.

Adams once again followed his youngest around to almost every volleyball and basketball game. He even got a chance to be an assistant coach for the girls basketball program under John Cunningham for her sophomore and junior seasons.

Now a senior, Katie is into volleyball and basketball once again and Adams plans on being there for all of it.

“It is my great joy in life to watch my two daughters grow up and become great people. They are special people and it’s been exciting to see them grow,” Adams said.

Adams’ very expensive hobby, as he calls it, is something he says he’s thankful for. Adams said it helps him stay young because he is a kid at heart.

Adams loves the generation of high school kids, he went on to say, and he’s thankful for having the ability to be a part of their lives and help them through a very innocent time.

Of course, Adams didn’t want to forget to mention a new love in his life, girlfriend Sue Ellen Barker, who attends plenty of road trips and is a frequent fan at many Scorpion athletic

events while Adams is working the sidelines.

With his youngest child moving on after this season, Adams doesn’t know what the future holds for him in Sedona, or in SRRHS athletics.

He hopes whatever he’s doing, he will still find time to continue to help people and be a part of their changing lives.

So if you see “Doc” Adams on the sidelines this school year, go up and shake his hand, give him a hug, and thank him for what he’s done in this community.

I know I have.

Brian Bergner Jr. can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 131, or e-mail bbergner@larsonnewspapers.com