Theo “Ted” Adkins, Jr.
1928 – 2014
Passed away in Petaluma on January, 3, 2014 at the age of 85. Cherished and survived by his two children: Dana Adkins of Palm Springs, and Clay Adkins of West Hollywood, as well as his former wife and advocate caregiver, Gwen Adkins of Santa Rosa.
Ted was born in Greeneville, Mississippi on February 19, 1928, but grew up in the Lumber Mill community of Tuolumne, CA, where he was a star athlete, earning him a full athletic scholarship to the College of the Pacific in Stockton (now U.O.P.). During his college career, he excelled in football, basketball & boxing, however, his favorite sport was baseball, and was chosen captain of the California All Star Team. Later, he was inducted into their Baseball "Hall of Fame". He also developed lifetime friendships with his Rho Lambda Phi (Rhizomia) Fraternity Brothers.
After graduating with a BA Degree in 1951, he signed with the Pittsburg Pirates, as one of the few left handed first basemen in professional baseball, and at one time had a better batting average than Mickey Mantle. This was interrupted by his military commitment, but luckily while serving as a Lieutenant, he had the opportunity to play and manage their baseball team, which included some of America's best ball players. Ted also assisted the team doctor, finding it extremely interesting and enjoyable to help his teammates recover from injuries. The doctor eventually encouraged him to consider the field of physical therapy. Upon being discharged, he resumed his career with the Pirates, but after a few years, when they wanted him to move and manage the "Hollywood Stars", he wondered if it was time to "hang 'em up", even though his friend and teammate, Chuck Conners, assured him that they would get into the movies.
As we all know, that did happen for Chuck, but in spite of a few regrets, Ted decided to go back to school, and entered the Physical Therapy Program at UC Medical Center. After completion, he moved to Santa Rosa to work for Welch & Techmeyer, and in 1958 married one of his college "Sweethearts", Gwen Shepherd. While living in Santa Rosa, they had two children, Dana and Clay, but moved to Petaluma in 1966, where Ted established his own private Physical Therapy Practice which lasted almost 40 years.
In 1970, Gwen designed a "landmark" home around a rock quarry in West Petaluma, which the family loved and enjoyed for many years. Ted was always active in his community, serving as Presidents of the 20/30 Club in Santa Rosa and the Petaluma Rotary Club. He was a member of the Elks Club, Masonic Lodge, Santa Rosa Scottish Rite, and SIRS, with whom he enjoyed many trips. He was an assistant coach for his daughter's Softball and his son's Little League Teams, and having been born with a great tenor voice, he performed in several of the Harmoneer's and Harmonette's Musicals.
An avid sportsman, Ted enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, tennis, boating and skiing. He also enjoyed traveling the world, attending many medical conferences to constantly educate himself, both personally and professionally.and for a time, he enjoyed being a Dance Escort on cruise ships. Ted was easy on the eyes, with a fun loving and dynamic personality. This father and friend will be truly missed.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at Parent-Sorensen Mortuary & Crematory, 850 Keokuk St., Petaluma, CA. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Petaluma, 416 Payran St., Petaluma, CA 94952.
Published - January 9, 2014
A Petaluma physical therapist for more than 40 years, Theo “Ted” Adkins Jr. got his start in the field of athletics as a professional baseball player who was inducted into the California All Star Team’s Baseball Hall of Fame.
Mr. Adkins died on Jan. 3, 2014 at the age of 85.
Born in Greeneville, Miss., Mr. Adkins grew up in the lumber mill community of Tuolumne, where he was a star athlete, earning him a full athletic scholarship to the College of the Pacific in Stockton.
During his college career, he excelled in football, basketball and boxing, but his favorite sport was baseball. He was chosen captain of the California All Star Team, and later was inducted into its Baseball Hall of Fame. He also developed lifetime friendships with his Rho Lambda Phi (Rhizomia) Fraternity Brothers.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1951, Mr. Adkins signed on with the Pittsburg Pirates as one of the few left handed first basemen in professional baseball. At one time, he had a better batting average than Mickey Mantle.
His baseball career was interrupted by military commitment, but luckily while serving as a lieutenant, he had the opportunity to play and manage its baseball team, which included some of America’s best ball players. Mr. Adkins also assisted the team doctor, finding it extremely interesting and enjoyable to help his teammates recover from injuries. The doctor eventually encouraged him to consider the field of physical therapy.
Upon being discharged from the military, he resumed his career with the Pirates, but after a few years, when they wanted him to move and manage the “Hollywood Stars,” he wondered if it was time to “hang ’em up,” even though his friend and teammate, Chuck Conners, assured him that they would get into the movies. Mr. Adkins, however, decided to go back to school to earn a degree in physical therapy.
After completion, he moved to Santa Rosa to work for Welch & Techmeyer, and in 1958 married one of his college sweethearts, Gwen Shepherd. The couple moved to Petaluma in 1966, where Mr. Adkins established his own private physical therapy practice, which lasted almost 40 years.
In 1970, Gwen designed a home around a rock quarry in West Petaluma.
Mr. Adkins was very active in the community, serving as presidents of the 20/30 Club in Santa Rosa and the Petaluma Rotary Club. He was a member of the Elks Club, Masonic Lodge, Santa Rosa Scottish Rite, and Sons in Retirement.
He was an assistant coach for his daughter’s softball and his son’s Little League Teams. Having been born with a great tenor voice, he performed in several of the Harmoneer’s and Harmonette’s Musicals.
Mr. Adkins is survived by his children, Dana Adkins of Palm Springs and Clay Adkins of West Hollywood; and his former wife, Gwen Adkins of Santa Rosa.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, at Parent-Sorensen Mortuary & Crematory, 850 Keokuk St.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Petaluma, 416 Payran St., Petaluma 94952.
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Published - January 11, 2014
Theo “Ted” Adkins, a Petaluma physical therapist who played professional baseball and fathered two entertainers, died Jan. 3 in Petaluma of complications from several long-term ailments. He was 85.
Adkins was born in Mississippi but grew up in the Sierra foothill town of Tuolumne, where he was a star athlete and earned a full scholarship to College of the Pacific in Stockton, now University of the Pacific.
In college, he excelled in baseball, football and boxing, but he chose to focus on baseball as a career.
“He was good at all sports, but he always wanted to play pro baseball,” said Gwen Adkins of Santa Rosa, his former wife and advocate caregiver. “He was just a natural athlete. He could not play golf for 10 years, then go out and break the course record.”
After graduating in 1951, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and played first base in the team’s minor league system.
Adkins had a .305 batting average and hit 28 home runs in four seasons in the minors according to Baseball-Reference.com, a baseball statistics website.
In 1950, Adkins’ Hutchinson, Kan., Elks played the New York Yankees affiliate Joplin, Mo., Miners, who had an up-and-coming slugger named Mickey Mantle. After Mantle reached first on a base hit, Adkins chatted with the future Hall-of-Famer, according to Adkins’ friend, Steve Lucanic, who recalled Adkins’ story:
“Ted said, ’We were about to play a game with this kid named Mickey Mantle that we had all been hearing about for weeks and weeks. I was playing first base and got a first-hand look at this incredible ball player. Mickey’s first time up, he singled and there we both were, shaking hands at my bag and talking about the game.
“’In the middle of our conversation, Mick told me that he couldn’t talk any more because he was going to steal second base on the next pitch. Excited to find this out in advance, I signaled for a pitch-out, so we could cut him down at second. Mickey beat the throw with ease.’”
Adkins’ baseball career was interrupted by his Army service during the Korean War. Stationed stateside, Adkins played baseball for his unit’s team and helped the team doctor treat injuries. The experience would lead to his career in physical therapy.
After the war, with his baseball career stalled, Adkins returned to school to earn a degree in physical therapy. He moved to Santa Rosa to work for a physical therapy practice, then to Petaluma, where Adkins started his own practice that lasted 40 years.
In 1958, he married Gwen Shepherd, his college sweetheart. The couple had two children, Dana Adkins of Palm Springs and Clay Adkins of West Hollywood.
Dana, a singer and actress, has appeared in TV shows including “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Days of Our Lives” and starred in “Beach Blanket Babylon.” Clay’s credits include “Walker, Texas Ranger,” “Millionaire Matchmaker,” and he was also in “Beach Blanket Babylon.”
Adkins had a great singing voice, Gwen Adkins said.
“He was a natural tenor and a great dancer,” she said. “He was very outgoing. Everyone really liked him. He was an outstanding physical therapist.”
Adkins was active in the community serving as president of the 20/30 Club in Santa Rosa and the Petaluma Rotary Club. He coached softball and Little League baseball and enjoyed hunting, fishing and boating. He also enjoyed traveling and visited Asia, Europe, Canada and Mexico.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Parent-Sorensen Mortuary, 850 Keokuk St. in Petaluma. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Petaluma.
By Matt Brown, The Press Democrat