Adolph is a native of Colorado, born in 1930 at Leadville. An outstanding skiing athlete, his record of accomplishments include divisional, national, and international levels of competition. He represented the Rocky Mountain Division in the first Junior National Alpine Championship in 1948 and was a four-event skier at Western State College. Some of the numerous awards he has received include the highest award in the USA RMD, the Halstead Trophy, the Russel Welder Trophy for outstanding contribution to junior skiing in the USA, and several Awards of Merit from the USSA.

While serving in the Army during the Korean conflict, Adolph competed in Japan and was an Alpine and Nordic champion of the Far East. A member of the Olympic Training Squad, he participated in three tryouts during the 50's. During the 60's & 70's, he was the head coach of skiing at Fort Lewis College, a program that developed many national and NCAA champions. He was coach of the US Ski Team from 1963 to 1972, the Olympic Cross-country Team in 1964, and the Nordic Combined Team in 1972; and he was the head coach of the World University Games Team in 1972. Adolph continued to excel during the 80's, with an outstanding record of accomplishment in the Masters Class 6 Cross-country Racing and National and World Masters events.