Richard Fulton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 64th Mayor of Nashville | |
| In office 1975–1987 | |
| Preceded by | Beverly Briley |
| Succeeded by | Bill Boner |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Tennessee's 5th district | |
| In office January 3, 1963 – August 14, 1975 | |
| Preceded by | J. Carlton Loser |
| Succeeded by | Clifford Allen |
| Member of the Tennessee State Senate | |
| In office 1955–1963 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Harmon Fulton January 27, 1927 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | November 28, 2018 (aged 91) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Tennessee |
Richard Harmon Fulton (January 27, 1927 – November 28, 2018) was an American Democratic politician who served as a member of the Tennessee State Senate and of the United States House of Representatives, and the second mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.
Early life
Fulton was born in [[[Nashville]], Tennessee.[1] He graduated from East Nashville High School and served in the United States Navy in World War II.[2] After returning from his military service, he entered the University of Tennessee where he played for the Volunteers on the football team.[3]
Political career
State Senate
In 1954, Fulton was elected to the Tennessee State Senate in place of his brother Lyle, who died from cancer suddenly shortly after receiving the Democratic nomination for that post.[2] Fulton was sworn in on January 3, 1955, but because he was only 29, below the minimum age for Senators under the Tennessee State Constitution, the Senate voted unanimously (28-0) to unseat him.[4] Fulton could not serve in the Senate until he was elected in 1956 at the age of 31.[1] He was reelected to the Senate in 1958, then left politics to begin a career in real estate.[5]
Congress
In 1962, he entered the Democratic primary for the Nashville-based 5th Congressional District against incumbent Congressman Joseph Carlton Loser.[1] The election commission initially declared Loser the winner; however, a friend of Fulton successfully filed suit to throw out the primary results after The Tennessean reported corruption at the commission.[1] In the rerun of the primary, Fulton defeated Loser and was victorious in November.[1] He was one of the few Southern representatives to vote "yea" on the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[1] He retired from the House to run for mayor of Nashville.[1]
Mayor of Nashville
Fulton served as mayor of Nashville, Tennessee from 1975 through 1987.[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1978 and 1986.[6] In 1999, he embarked on a comeback mayoral bid where he made it to the runoff election, but then withdrew and endorsed his opponent Bill Purcell.[1]
During his tenure as mayor, Fulton was the an influential voice in the development of key downtown streets, Riverfront Park, the Nashville Convention Center, the construction of Interstate 440, the expanded use of the Metro Development and Housing Agency and established 485 acres of parks in the city.[1]
Death
Fulton died on November 28, 2018 at a hospice in Nashville at the age of 91.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Richard Fulton, former Nashville mayor and congressman, dies at 91". The Tennessean. 2018-11-28.
- ^ a b "Former mayor Fulton dies at 91". Nashville Post. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- ^ "Six to join MNPS Sports Hall of Fame". USA Today. 2015-04-11.
- ^ Battle, Dick; Tom Flake (January 5, 1955). "Senate Vote Ousts Fulton". Nashville Banner.
- ^ "Ex-congressman, ex-Nashville mayor Richard Fulton dies at 91". Kurl8. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- ^ "Ex-congressman, ex-Nashville mayor Richard Fulton dies at 91". AP News. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
External links
- United States Congress. "Richard Fulton (id: F000424)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
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