Memorial for Doug Adams

Doug Adams

We are deeply saddened by the passing of EFC founder, fastener industry entrepreneur and pioneer Doug Adams. Doug passed peacefully at home among his family on December 8, 2020. Doug was a larger than life and one of a kind individual, well known and respected throughout the fastener industry for more than 50 years. Beyond his entrepreneurship, Doug was an avid artist, biker, designer, fisherman, art collector, pet lover, boater, philanthropist, husband, father, and grandfather.

Doug established EFC in 1983. Prior to that, Doug was involved in the fastener industry as a manufacturers representative known as D.F. Adams & Associates dating back to 1968. Doug was very proud of EFC’s growth and expansion over the years and he leaves a tremendous legacy of passion, commitment, ambition, and vision for the world of fastener distribution and engineering.

Doug leaves an indelible mark on the fastener industry. Part of his pioneering was establishing EFC as one of the first fastener distributors specifically focused and dedicated to highly engineered fasteners and branded product lines, and intentionally building a sales team of engineers capable of design and innovation.  Doug’s contributions to the industry are widespread, including his part in the creation of what a “Master Distributor” can evolve into, customer and supplier partnering, and one of the earliest adopters of visionary technologies that are now widely utilized across the industry. Doug was recipient of many fastener industry awards over the years, but what he was most proud of in business was the growth he enabled for customers, suppliers, the company, and employees.

Doug will undoubtedly be remembered for his boisterous and energetic personality. In a room of a thousand, you always knew Doug was there or he would eventually make sure you knew. More than that, people will remember his passion for the industry, his brilliant mind, his unique perspectives and his generosity to causes dear to his heart. His legacy on the industry will endure and we celebrate his impact and memory. May he rest in peace.