John Brooks Sr.

Class of 2008

John was born March 21, 1940, in Los Angeles. He received his bachelor’s degree in zoology from Pomona College and earned a master’s in biology from the University of Southern California. He was the recipient of a National Science Foundation Fellowship.

John and Tempe, whom he married in 1963, have three children, Christine, Cynthia and John, Jr., along with four grandchildren.

After spending two years as a bio-technician for the Northrop Corp., in 1964 John attended the second National Confectioners Association Candy School and joined his father, Emmert, and his father’s business partner, Paul Adams, at the company the two had founded in 1932. During the next decade, John was involved in all aspects of the company, Adams & Brooks, Inc., from production and sales to finance.

He purchased Paul’s interest in the company in 1974 and succeeded his father as president in 1975, a position he still holds.

From an early point, John has been involved in several organizations in the confectionery industry. He first joined the Western Candy Conference in 1976, serving as chairman in 1978. In 2001, he received the group’s Distinguished Service Award. He was a member of the NCA board from 1978 to 1982, and again from 1992 to 1996 and was twice elected NCA vice-president, in both 1982 and 1996.

He acknowledges what he learned from his father and Paul as having the most significant influence on his career. John also points out that his association with the NCA board has been a wonderful way to get to know industry people. He says the candy business has everything he could want, including marvelous people, intricate marketing and the chance to develop products that give people a moment of pleasure.

John enjoys reading and being with his grandchildren when he is away from work. He has served on the San Gabriel Valley Boys Club board, and is a past president of the Trustee Committee of the Pasadena Presbyterian Church. He is currently involved with civic and governmental issues and occasional entrepreneurial ventures.