E. Ross Adair

For the Irish cricketer, see Ross Adair.

E. Ross Adair
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 4th district
In office January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1971
Preceded by	Edward H. Kruse
Succeeded by	J. Edward Roush
United States Ambassador to Ethiopia
In office July 8, 1971 – February 12, 1974
Preceded by	William O. Hall
Succeeded by	Arthur W. Hummel Jr.
Personal details
Born	(1907-12-14)December 14, 1907 Albion, Indiana, US
Died	May 5, 1983(1983-05-05) (aged 75) Fort Wayne, Indiana, US
Resting place	Greenlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	Hillsdale College, A.B. George Washington University Law School, J.D.
Occupation	Attorney

Edwin Ross Adair (December 14, 1907 – May 5, 1983) was an American lawyer and World War II veteran who served ten terms as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1951 to 1971. He also served as the United States Ambassador to Ethiopia from 1971 to 1974.

Early life

Born in Albion, Indiana, Adair attended grade and high schools in that city. He graduated from Hillsdale College in Michigan, A.B., 1928, and from George Washington University Law School, Washington, D.C., LL.B., 1933.

He was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1933 and commenced the practice of law in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He served as probate commissioner of Allen County, Indiana from 1940 to 1950. During World War II, he was called to active duty as a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps Reserve in September 1941 and served until October 1945. He received battle stars for the Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhine and Central European campaigns.

U.S. Representative

Adair was elected as a Republican from Indiana's 4th congressional district to the Eighty-second and to the nine succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1971). Adair voted in favor of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, but voted present on the 24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1970 to the Ninety-second Congress.

Ambassador

He served as the United States Ambassador to Ethiopia from 1971 to 1974 as an appointee of President Richard Nixon.

Later career and death

He resumed the practice of law in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he resided until his death there, May 5, 1983. He was interred at Greenlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Fort Wayne.

See also

• E. Ross Adair Federal Building and United States Courthouse

References

Sources

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• United States Congress. "E. Ross Adair (id: A000024)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.