Eva B. Adams; Distinguished Nevadan Once Directed U.S. Mint

Eva B. Adams, 80, former director of the U.S. Mint and aide to three U.S. senators from Nevada. A native Nevadan, Ms. Adams was born in the tiny mining community of Wonder, which ceased to exist when the mining claims ran dry. She went on to earn several academic degrees while pursuing a career in Washington. Ms. Adams first went to work as an aide to Sen. Pat McCarran in 1940 and later for Sens. Ernest Brown and Alan Bible. President John F. Kennedy appointed her as director of the U.S. Mint in 1961. During her eight years on the job, she authorized and supervised construction of a new mint in Philadelphia, and alleviated a nationwide coinage shortage by finding an adequate silver substitute in clad composition. Ms. Adams once commented that during her years in Washington, a woman administrative assistant was expected to: “Dress like a queen. Act like a lady. Think like a man. Work like a dog.” Ms. Adams received the Distinguished Nevadan award in 1966, was named one of Nevada’s “Outstanding Women of the Century” in 1973 and in 1985 was inducted into the Nevada Women’s Fund Hall of Fame. On Friday in Reno.