Adams to Receive UMSHoF&M President's Distinguished Service Award
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Former baseball player and longtime Miami Hurricanes supporter Tommy Adams has been selected to receive the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame & Museum’s President’s Distinguished Service Award at the UMSHoF&M’s 56th Induction Banquet on Thursday, April 23 at Watsco Center.
A longtime supporter of his alma mater, Adams has been giving back to the University of Miami for decades, and he hopes his philanthropy will inspire others to give back to Miami.
“I have been donating to the University of Miami for many years, giving to baseball, football, basketball, the College of Engineering, Frost School of Music and Miami Herbert Business School,” Adams said. “Former head coach Eddie Dunn and the University of Miami helped me become what I am today. I truly appreciate all they have done for me and I hope I can inspire other athletes and students to someday give back to their alma mater.”
Adams came to Miami in 1953 focused on playing baseball for the Hurricanes. As a freshman, he earned a spot in Dunn’s starting lineup as the leftfielder before moving to centerfield later in the season. While he found success on the diamond, Adams did not do as well academically and did not have the money to return for his sophomore year. Dunn awarded Adams a scholarship and arranged for tests to help the young student-athlete determine a course of study. Following two days of tests, it was decided that Adams major in business and from that day forward he excelled academically and athletically, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1957.
“Eddie Dunn is one of the people most responsible for my graduating and becoming successful in life,” Adams said. “He is someone who never gets talked about but deserves more recognition for the wonderful things he did for me and others.”
After graduating from the University of Miami, Adams signed and played with the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees organizations for six years, and while still playing was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War. After serving two years in the armed services, Adams went on to found Tiodize, Inc., an advanced technology company specializing in Tribology, providing products and services to aerospace, NASA, medical and other industries. Adams has been the President and Founder of Tiodize since its inception in 1966.
Adams has been a loyal supporter of the baseball program, where the home plate entrances to Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Stadium have been named in his honor. His $1 million donation was the largest ever by a former Miami baseball player to the program. He has also supported the UM Sports Hall of Fame & Museum, including sponsoring the golf tournament and purchasing a display case in the Tom Kearns Sports Hall of Fame Building that honors his senior year Miami baseball coach and Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee Jimmie Foxx.
Tommy Adams will become only the 12th recipient of the President’s Distinguished Service Award as the UM Sports Hall of Fame celebrates its 60th Anniversary in 2026. Past honorees include longtime Hurricanes baseball announcer Jay Rokeach; Miami football’s security chief and current Coral Gables Police Chief Ed Hudak; former faculty representative and ACC President Dr. Clyde McCoy; former secretary to the Miami football coaches for 37 years, Myrna Schnieder; and Hurricanes radio broadcasters Joe Zagacki and Don Bailey, Jr., who joined their mentor, the late Sonny Hirsch, in receiving the award. The last recipient of the award in 2024 was a close friend of Tommy Adams, longtime Hurricanes fan, UMSHoF&M Board of Director’s member and legendary Miami-Dade School Board leader G. Holmes Braddock.
Click here for more information on the 56th Induction Banquet.
