Adam Lee Oliphant was born Sunday, April 21, 1940 in Kosse, Texas To Thomas Grace Oliphant and Una B. (Dunn) Oliphant. This new family then moved for a while to Houston, TX, and, after a brief stay moved and settled in Abilene, TX in 1941. Adam's parents immediately rented an apartment from Dr. and Mrs. William Butler. Mrs. Butler, a retired teacher, began tutoring him early and had him more than school ready for first grade. This early academic preparation meant that he started school in the second grade. He later graduated with the 1957 class from Woodson High school and was student body president. Adam then attended Prairie View A&M College where he majored in structural and architectural engineering. While there he was in R.O.T.C. and was a championship marksman on the rifle range. He also was a member of the International YMCA and because of one of their exchange programs, was sent to Tuzla, Turkey (a suburb of Istanbul), where he and other young people built a water retaining wall for this small seaside village. While at Prairie View he met and married Juanita Baptiste. To this union a son, Kevin Sherwood was born. They moved to Washington DC where he worked in a position under then Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson. After this marriage dissolved, he met and married Barbara Elaine Murray of Washington, DC in August 1968. To this union two sons were born, Erich Kipling and Damien Preston. After working for the Federal Government, he worked for a non-profit community enhancement organization called Pride Incorporated. Later he was employed at Fairchild-Hiller as a project administrator for the F-111. After leaving Fairchild-Hiller, he was executive director for the Bread & Peace Committee; an anti-war lobby concerned with ending the Viet Nam War and feeding the hungry in America. When the anti-war lobby ceased operation, be began a business management consulting firm from his home that he called Image Enterprises. After many years of work with small and minority businesses, he opened his own business, a convenience store in Northeast Washington, DC, Sunshine Country Market that was in operation for nearly 30 years. During those years, he was a trustee and choir member at Providence Baptist Church where he and his brother Charles purchased and donated brass hand bells for the children's hand bell choir. His philanthropy was also extended to the surrounding community in the form of scholarship and tuition assistance to underprivileged deserving students, sports jackets for local youth teams, and doing motivational speaking at local schools and universities. Adam was an inventor and obtained patents for various barbeque and camping grills. He thoroughly enjoyed discussing with anyone the creative process involved with invention and innovation. It was this enthusiasm that resulted in the United States Information Agency sending him to Bulgaria to speak to young people there. Upon returning to his hometown, Abilene, Texas, he began doing home improvement work, raised-bed gardening, serious cooking with an emphasis on baking while raising a duck and a hen in his back yard who provided eggs for the baking plus enough to give away. He loved to share the produce from his garden with anyone who would take them. He showed tremendous courage, as he was never willing to allow his illness to completely shut down his interests. He was still doing baking just days before his demise. Fully exhausted, Adam died quietly Sunday morning, July 5, 2015 at his home in Abilene. As per his request, his body was cremated. Adam leaves to cherish his memory his sons: Kevin Sherwood Oliphant of Beaumont, TX, Erich Kipling Oliphant, and Damien Preston Oliphant, both of Washington, DC. Brothers: Thomas Grace Oliphant, Jr., and Charles Clifford Oliphant, both of Abilene, TX. Grandchildren: Kaci Monet Rogers, Mayra Fernandez and Maia Oliphant. He is also survived by Barbara Murray Oliphant, (mother of Erich and Damien), and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of other relatives and friends across the globe. A group of special life-long friends include William Howard Ammons, Clarence Bell, and Trudy Harris Glover from their days as Cradle Roll members of Sunday School at Macedonia Baptist Church, Abilene, Texas. Adam was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. and Mrs. T. G. and Una B. Oliphant, his first wife and mother of Kevin, Juanita Baptitse Oliphant and his grandparents on both sides of the family. The Oliphant family expresses sincere appreciation to the doctors and other medical practitioners who cared for him during his illness. He was a voracious reader and tireless learner. Always encouraging other in their quest for a more robust understanding of life and our place in it. Our family has created a scholarship fund in honor of that spirit. In lieu of flowers, we ask your expression of condolence be directed to the following link: http://www.youcaring.com/adam-1-oliphant-388661, or you may also donate to the scholarship at any First Financial Bank branch through a beneficiary account established in his name. A Memorial Luncheon celebrating his life will be held Wednesday, August 19, 2015, at 11:30 AM, at New Light Baptist Church (Hurd-Scott Building), 518 N. 6th Street, Abilene, TX. Celebration with the family will be at his home, 1541 Plum Street, Abilene, TX, Wednesday, August 19th, 6:30-8:30 PM.