Richard Fulton

Richard Harmon 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	(1927-01-27) January 27, 1927 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of Tennessee

Richard Harmon "Dick" Fulton (born January 27, 1927) is 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.

Background

Fulton was educated as a youth in the public schools of his native Nashville. He later attended the University of Tennessee. He served in the United States Navy in World War II.

State Senate

In 1954, Fulton was elected to the Tennessee State Senate in place of his brother Lyle, who had died suddenly shortly after receiving the Democratic nomination for that post. Fulton was sworn in on January 3, 1955. He had not yet turned 30, however, the age required for senators under the Tennessee State Constitution. His election was challenged on this basis, and the Senate voted unanimously (28-0) to unseat Fulton,^[1] whose post was then taken by Clifford Allen. Fulton ran for the position again in 1956, and this time was of age and seated. He was reelected in 1958, then left politics to begin a career in real estate.

Congress

In 1962 he entered the Democratic primary for the Nashville-based 5th Congressional District against incumbent Congressman Joseph Carlton Loser. Fulton defeated Loser and was victorious in November. Fulton was handily reelected in 1964. He was one of the few Southern representatives to vote "yea" on the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 1966, 1968, and 1970, his Republican opponent was George Kelly. In 1972, Fulton faced a challenge from attorney Alf Adams.

Mayor and later career

Fulton served as mayor of Nashville, Tennessee from 1975 through 1987. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1978 and 1986 and made a failed comeback mayoral bid in 1999.^[2] Fulton later devoted his time to his family's real estate business and his governmental-relations consulting firm, which he still pursues as of 2005.

References

• United States Congress. "Richard Fulton (id: F000424)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.