SEC FORM 4

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

HOOPER LAWRENCE L JR

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

7 ST PAUL STREET

STE 1140

(Street)

BALTIMORE

21202

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
ADAMS EXPRESS CO [ ADX ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director	10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)
	VP, Gen'l Counsel & Sec'y

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2009

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock	12/31/2009		J	V	179⁽¹⁾	A	$0⁽¹⁾	12,503⁽²⁾	D
Common Stock	12/31/2009		J	V	2,404⁽³⁾	A	$0⁽³⁾	19,211	I	By Issuer's Thrift Plan Trust
Common Stock	01/14/2010		A		3,261	A	$0⁽⁴⁾	15,764	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Explanation of Responses:

1. These shares were acquired in exempt transactions as a result of dividend reinvestment. The Issuer's stock traded in a range of $6.06-$10.28 during 2009.

2. Of these shares, 202 shares are held in two custodial accounts with the undersigned's children.

3. The number of shares reported as held by the Issuer's Thrift Plan Trust represents the undersigned's proportionate beneficial interest in such stock held in the Trust. Such number is based on information as of December 31, 2009, the most recent date as of which such information is available. This number reflects periodic contributions made during 2009, shares acquired by the Trustee through dividend reinvestment, and changes in the number of shares previously reported due to fluctuations in the market price and interests in the Trust. Shares were acquired by the Trustee at various times during 2009. The Issuer's stock traded in a range of $6.06-$10.28.

4. N/A. Restricted Stock Grant. Shares will vest in 2013.

	Lawrence L. Hooper, Jr.	01/15/2010
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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