UNI Hosts Fourth Annual ROTC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
- Mi Kayla Whitman
- Dec 5, 2019
- 3 min read
By Mi Kayla Whitman
It was raining hard on Saturday morning as veterans, their families, and UNI ROTC members and supporters came to Lang Hall at UNI to witness the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. LTC Bobbie Willliams (retired) '86, and LTC Jeffrey Adamovicz (retired) '84 were inducted into the UNI ROTC Hall of Fame for their outstanding accomplishments in the military.
Adamovicz served as Ambulance Platoon Leader 3rd Armored Division, Student Company Commander, Fitzsimmons Army Hospital. Executive Officer 520 TAML 44th Airborne. In 1996, he supported the United Nations in Iraq as a Bio Weapons Inspection Compliance Officer. He earned a Ph. D. in Microbiology from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD.
In 2011, he turned to academia and taught and served as Scientific Director at the University of Wyoming until 2015. He is now the Director of the Laboratory for Infectious Disease Research at the University of Missouri. Adamovicz has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal for service in Iraq, and the Order of Military Medical Merit Lifetime award for lasting contributions to military medicine.
Williams commissioned into the United States Army through the UNI ROTC program as a Field Artillery Officer. He earned two Master’s degrees in Human Resource Management and General Administration from Webster University and Central Michigan University, respectively. Williams was deployed in Norway in support of Operation Battle Griffin, a NATO Composite Force directed exercise. He also served in South Korea and Kuwait.
From 2003 to 2006, Williams was the Commandant in Chief of Administration for the Army Operations Center at the Pentagon. Prior to retirement, Williams was also Professor of Military Science at Howard University. Under Williams, the Howard University ROTC program was recognized as the Best ROTC Company in the nation. Williams has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal.
The current ROTC cadets were in their dress uniforms and socialized while awaiting the arrival of Williams and Adamovicz. It was homecoming week at UNI, and this was one of several celebrations that the ROTC students were a part of. They also tailgated at the football game, and some were supposed to ride a float in the parade, but unfortunately the parade was cancelled due to rain.
I had the opportunity to speak with Bobbie (B-O-B-B-I-E) Williams before the ceremony, and he was a treat. Bobbie told my all about how his time at UNI as a full-scholarship football player and ROTC member shaped him into the man he is today.
“It is a tremendous honor in so many respects,” he said.
Williams was not only in the ROTC program at UNI, he was also a football player all four years on a full scholarship. He said that being a part of both programs helped to hone and sharpen his leadership skills.
Reflecting back on his time in the ROTC program at UNI, Williams said it was very special to him.
“When you leave this fine institution, he said, “You want to make your mark.”
Williams definitely left his mark that day with a charismatic speech.
A trustee at the university, Williams did just as much off the field in regards to community service as he did on the field as a football player. He also was a big believer in giving advice to the young cadets in attendance that day.
“If you’re in ROTC, take the program seriously,” Williams said, “You are responsible for individuals’ lives and that is a major undertaking.”
The event ended by a singing of both the Army Song and the UNI Fight Song, which the audience was encouraged to participate in. Even though it was rainy and gloomy outside, it was a good morning of reflection and thankfulness for the service of two outstanding men.
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