Tommy Gene Fulton

Tommy Gene Fulton (b. May 5, 1936), artist, art teacher, activist, public servant, bridge player, and traveler, died at the age of 83 on June 29, 2019. Born to Thomas Gene (Gene) Fulton and Josephine (Jo) Goode Fulton, Tom was a native of Oklahoma City. The family lived in Texas a short while. Tom graduated high school in Grand Falls, TX in 1954. He was drafted and served a short while in the United States Army.

He earned his education degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1957, then continued to receive a Master of Fine Arts from OU. While at OU, Tom was a member of Delta Phi Delta, National Honorary Vocation Art Fraternity, Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education, Omicron Delta Kappa, National Honor Society, and the Student Senate. He also served as an assistant to OU President, Dr. George Lynn Cross.

Tom was a long-time teacher of the Mid-Del Public Schools, earning the honor of Teacher of the Year by the Oklahoma State Fair in 1976. He was an integral leader in the Oklahoma Chapter and South Central Region of the Association of Classroom Teachers (ACT), the Oklahoma Art Education Association (OAEA), and Oklahoma Education Association (OEA). He received citations from ACT for his work in the organization. He served on the Board of Directors of OEA and as President of the organization in 1974. Former OEA Executive Director David DuVall, who worked with Tommy for many years, said, “He was a loyal association leader, a talented artist, and a truly nice man.” Tom continued a life of public service upon retirement. He sat on the Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma Board of Trustees. He was also involved in the Democratic Party. He was a Legislative Contact for Oklahoma County Retired Educators, known by colleagues to communicate with former Rep. Scott Inman (D) and current Rep. Andy Fugate (D) about issues that impact retired teachers. Many art teachers have difficulty finding time to create their own art. Even amidst his work in the community, Tom did not. Tom was most known for his oil and watercolor paintings and Old World Santa and Santa Around the World sculptures. However, he was also accomplished in pencil drawings, cut paper collage, and even worked with jewelry making in his later years. He was truly a life-long student, himself. When he was not in his home studio or working in the community, he could be found traveling. He enjoyed traveling with friends and family, and was even known to be spotted by family in popular destinations (What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay there!). He was a fan of musicals, traveling to Branson and New York frequently to see their shows and holding season tickets here in Oklahoma City. He was involved in several bridge clubs. He enjoyed the fellowship of friends in the Mid-Del area and at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.

Tom, a cousin to many, enjoyed visiting with family in Texas and Oklahoma. He rarely missed a reunion, a birthday, any excuse to see each other, and hosted family at his home for holiday dinners. He was a bit of a comedian and didn’t mind laughing at himself while telling stories with relatives. He leaves behind a legacy of service, empowering the skills of his students, and memories with treasured family, friends and colleagues.