Samuel Baker Fullerton, Jr. of Warren died peacefully in his sleep January 28, 2023. He was 91. Sam was born July 10, 1931 in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Samuel Baker Fullerton and Mary Styron Fullerton. He graduated from Culver Military Academy, the Lawrenceville School and the University of Arkansas with a degree in Business Administration. Sam was married for 69 years to the love of his life, Tomme ”Fufa” Triplett Fullerton. From the time they met and fell in love in the summer of 1952 until his death, Sam and Fufa were inseparable.
Fullerton served as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Mobile, Alabama, where he served as a war planner and in military logistics. In the Reserves, Sam reached the rank of Captain. Following his return to his hometown of Warren in 1956, he worked as an executive in the Bradley Lumber Company. He later founded and led Moro Gravel, Moro Inc., and L.A. Log Trailers. He served as a director of the Arkansas General Contractors. Fullerton built many sections of the Arkansas interstate system, including the I-40/430 Crystal Hill interchange, most of I-530 from Pine Bluff to
Little Rock, and other sections of the interstate from Texarkana to Fort Smith. He also built many secondary roads and bridges all over the State of Arkansas. Following his retirement, Fullerton was recognized by his peers as a leader in the construction industry and was inducted into the Arkansas Construction Hall of Fame in 2004.
Fullerton was a long-time supporter of the Warren Public Schools. He served three decades as the school board representative and Chair of the Bradley County Equalization Board. He donated the site work to construct the Warren High School Auditorium/City of Warren Cultural Center and Lumberjack stadium, the latter in honor
of his friend and business partner, Jim Hurley. Fullerton also donated playground material for the elementary school. Fullerton did the site preparation for the Warren Municipal Airport. He served as a Charter Member of the South East Arkansas Regional Intermodal Authority and as its treasurer from 1998 until 2011.
Fullerton was a both an Elder and a Deacon at the First Presbyterian Church in Warren and served on the Board of the Arkansas Presbyterian Foundation and the Ferncliff Board. He was a lifelong supporter of the Razorbacks, a Broyles Matthews Scholarship donor, and a member of Xi Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, where he made many lasting friendships across the state. Fullerton was a Ducks Unlimited Life Sponsor, a voracious reader, and a lover of big black dogs.
Fullerton is survived by his wife Tomme “Fufa”; Fullerton; three children: Samuel Baker Fullerton, III (Phyllis) of De Witt, Arkansas; the Reverend Dr. Fairfax Fullerton Fair of
Houston, Texas; and Arthur King Fullerton of New York City; one grandson, Barton Walker Fair, Jr. (Jessie) of Houston, Texas; and two great grandchildren, Sadie Rose Fair and Ashton Samuel Fair, both of Houston; and one nephew, Mickey Seeburg of Bozeman, Montana, only child of his late sister, Mary Lu Fullerton Seeburg.
A memorial service with Dr. Fair presiding was held at the First Presbyterian Church of Warren on Tuesday, January 31st at 2 pm with a reception to follow in the church Fellowship Hall. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery. Pallbearers were Dr. Scott Claycomb, Thomas Frazer, Clint Horne, Bryan Martin, Bob Milton, Nazaire Minton, Scott Richardson, and Neil Wisener. Honorary Pallbearers were Murray Claycomb, Bill Jones, John King, Jack Miller, Dr. Kerry Pennington, Cliff Morgan and the Elders of The First Presbyterian Church, Warren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to First Presbyterian Church or the YMCA of Warren.