Joe R. Fulton, loving son, husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend passed away February 15, 2018. Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Fran, children, Cathy Fulton, Joe P. Fulton, Jim Powers (Meredith) and Elizabeth James (Charles). Joe has five cherished grandchildren, Ashleigh Arnim, Edie Powers, Frances Tyson, Caroline Powers and J.T. Tyson. He has 2 step-children, Mary Beth Curry (Rusty) and Mike McLendon. Joe has 3 siblings, Rosemary Fulton, Carol Fulton (Shair) and Stewart Fulton (Kathy) and a sister-in-law Mimi Zoch and many nieces and nephews.

Joe was born on September 6, 1934 to Karin and J. D. Fulton in Nash, Texas and was delivered by his grandfather, Dr. J. A. Dodd.  His early life was spent in Prairie Lea, Texas until the family eventually moved to Olney, Texas. After graduating from Olney High School in 1951, Joe went to Texas Tech University for one semester and then transferred to the University of Texas in Austin where he earned a degree in Architectural Engineering in 1956.  Joe worked for Robert E. McKee, a large construction company in Dallas.  After a year he became Private Fulton in the U. S. Army.  He then went to work for Yarbrough Construction in Austin working under his mentor, Royce Faulkner, whom he called his closest friend.   Joe moved to Corpus Christi in 1958 to work for O. J. Beck & Sons.  Joe and others started their own business in 1965.  He was very proud of his co-workers at Fulton Construction Corporation, some of whom retired after 40 years with the company.  He was proud of his friendships with people from many different areas of the community and his ability to recall names and backgrounds.  He could call most of his field employees by their first name and they were encouraged to call him “Joe”.

Fulton Construction built many notable buildings in Corpus Christi including the South Texas Art Museum, Texas State Aquarium, Bayfront Omni Hotel, Frost Bank Tower, Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline Pavilion, Christus Spohn Hospital South, Nueces County Courthouse, United States Federal Courthouse, Whataburger Field, American Bank Center, Corpus Christi International Airport, Bay Area Medical Center, Veterans Memorial High School and hundreds of other projects over the last 50 plus years. In 1993, the Engineering News Record named his company one of the top 400 contractors in the nation. In 2001, Joe retired and sold Fulton Construction to Philip Skrobarczyk, whose friendship was so deep he thought of him as another son.  He continued to go into the office at Fulton for many years.

Joe was active in many civic and charitable organizations.  He was proud of his thirteen years as a Commissioner with the Port of Corpus Christi and his five and a half years as Port Chairman.  After Joe left the Port Commission, the Port’s north side road was named the Joe Fulton International Trade Corridor in his honor.  He also enjoyed his service on the Board of Cullen/Frost Bank, a NYSE listed company, and his time as a Trustee and Chairman of the Driscoll Foundation.  Joe held many positions with the Associated General Contractors of America including Life Director on the National AGC Board of Directors, President of South Texas AGC, Chairman of the AGC Building Division in AGC of America, Inc., and President of the Texas State AGC Building Branch.  He also served as a Director with the Texas State Historical Association and was Chairman of the Corpus Christi Economic Development Corporation, the Greater Corpus Christi Business Alliance and President of the Corpus Christi Tourist Bureau.  Joe was honored to receive the Kirkland Award for Distinguished Business Administration presented by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in April 1998.

Joe was a member of the King's Men and the Centurian Club. In 1983 he was Chancellor of the Realm in the annual Buccaneer's Days Coronation. He was also a member of the Corpus Christi Country Club, Town Club and the Corpus Christi Yacht Club among other local clubs. He was an avid collector of J. Evetts Haley books who was a political activist and Texas historian.  Joe was fascinated with Civil War history and collected memorabilia and books from that period. He had an extensive collection of antique tools, which he kept at his beloved Mustang Ranch.

Joe was a very generous man who deeply loved and adored Fran, his children, grandchildren, his church, co-workers, and his community. 

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the staff at the Mirador Plaza and his caregivers: Reyna Zapata, Sabrina Santillana, Kimberly Vead, Patricia Munoz, Cristina Murillo, Lottie Dean, Rose Villarreal and family, and Irma Flores. Also, Joe loved and appreciated many years of loyal friendship and service from Lynn Tabor, Helen Dalton and Diane Havelka.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00am on Monday, February 19, 2018 at the First United Methodist Church followed by graveside services at Seaside Memorial Cemetery. Pallbearers are Joe P. Fulton, Jim Powers, Charles James, JT Tyson, Steve Pitt and George Hager. Honorary Pallbearers are Philip Skrobarczyk, Mike Lippincott, Jim Barnette, Ray Jones, Royce Faulkner, Henry Garrett, Ryan Smith and Frank Zoch.

The family suggests in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to the Driscoll Children’s Hospital, Development Foundation, P.O. Box 6530, Corpus Christi, Texas 78466 or the J.D. Fulton Endowed Scholarship, Del Mar College Foundation, 101 Baldwin Blvd., Corpus Christi, Texas 78414 or the charity of your choice. 

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