Richard M. Adams

Richard M. Adams is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of United Bankshares, Inc. A Parkersburg native, he is a graduate of West Virginia University, and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University.

Mr. Adams began his banking career as a Management Trainee with Wachovia Bank and Trust in Winston-Salem, NC. Later, he returned to his roots in West Virginia to join The Parkersburg National Bank. At the age of 29, he was named President and Chairman of what was The Parkersburg National Bank (predecessor to United), a single-office community bank with $100 million in assets. Under Adams’ leadership, United has completed 32 acquisitions and has grown to an over $25 billion financial services company.

Mr. Adams is a member of The Financial Services Roundtable, the World President’s Organization, and is a Board Member of the WV United Health System. He is a Past Chairman of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Business Roundtable, WV Kids Count, West Virginia Bankers Association, the Parkersburg Development Corporation, Wood County Development Corporation, Greater Mid-Ohio Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Eastern States Bankcard Association in New York. He has been a member of the International Financial Conference and has served on the American Bankers Association Governing Council, as well as the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. He has also served on the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank, the Board of Trustees of Camden Clark Memorial Hospital, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Regional Advisory Council, the Young President’s Organization of America and the Rotary Club.

In addition, he has raised funds for many charities, including $700,000 for the West Virginia Kids Count Endowment Fund, and $600,000 as Chairman of the Salvation Army Building Campaign. He is also the Founder of the Kids Golf Classic Tournament, which has donated over $3.1 million to aid the Boys and Girls Club of Parkersburg.

Mr. Adams has been inducted into the West Virginia University Business Hall of Fame, and has been honored as a recipient of the Governor’s “Distinguished West Virginian Award”, the WVU “Most Loyal West Virginian Award”, the Ernst & Young “Lifetime Achievement Award”, and the West Virginia “Banker of the Year Award”. He was selected by Morningstar, Inc. as one of three nominees nationwide for their CEO of the Year Award. He has received several honors from The State Journal, including the “Who’s Who in West Virginia Business Award” and the “Lorenelle White Lifetime Achievement Award.” He has been recognized by the Parkersburg Area Jaycees as “Boss of the Year”, in addition to “Citizen of the Year” by the Parkersburg YMCA. He has published articles in various national banking journals, was a member of the U.S. Army Reserves and the Vestry of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church.