Background
Fulton was born on January 27, 1927 in Nashville, Tennessee, United States; the son of Lyle Houston Fulton and Labina (Plummer) Fulton.
1962
Richard Fulton and his wife Jewell are surrounded by their five children and enthusiastic supporters as the candidate formally opens his campaign headquarter and announces for the 5th District congressional race. The children are, from left in front, Mike, Linda, Barry and Donna, with Richard Lyle standing between his parents.
1966
Mayor Beverly Briley, left, discusses Democratic chances in the November elections with John J. Hooker Jr., left, United States Republican Richard Fulton and Bob Clement, son of Governor Frank G. Clement, at the Democratic fundraising dinner at the Fairgrounds Coliseum.
1962
Richard Fulton and his wife Jewell are surrounded by their five children and enthusiastic supporters as the candidate formally opens his campaign headquarter and announces for the 5th District congressional race. The children are, from left in front, Mike, Linda, Barry and Donna, with Richard Lyle standing between his parents.
1962
Congressional candidate Richard Fulton, overtaken by a flood of disputed absentee ballots from Gene (Little Evil) Jacob's home precinct, leans against a table and watches a meeting of the Davidson County Democratic Primary Board.
1962
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Fulton and Estes Kefauver, right, seat in Congress during a meeting at the Andrew Jackson Hotel.
1962
Congressional candidate Richard Fulton, his wife - Jewell at his side, tells the Davidson County Democatic Primary board, that the thousands of Davidson Countians who found the time to go to the polls deserve an honest, fair election.
1964
After finishing his speech, President Lyndon Johnson, center, looks at Senator Albert Gore and shakes hands with Richard Fulton, left, while Ross Bass waits his turn.
1966
Clyde R. Watson, right, potentate of Al Menah Shrine Temple, welcomes Richard Fulton an Al Menah noble, after he flew home from Washington to attend the Southeastern shrine Association convention.
1966
Mayor Beverly Briley, left, discusses Democratic chances in the November elections with John J. Hooker Jr., left, United States Republican Richard Fulton and Bob Clement, son of Governor Frank G. Clement, at the Democratic fundraising dinner at the Fairgrounds Coliseum.
1968
Movie and recording star Frankie Avalon, left, talks Richard Fulton, and recording star Roger Miller as the CP officials hosted a reception at the City Club in the Third National Bank building.
1972
Broadway star Carol Channing, center, points out something for Brenda Lee, left, and Richard Fulton during a party for her at the home of Buddy Killen, vice president of Tree International.
1974
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Richard Fulton, right, is taking a bite of watermelon at his pre-election watermelon party in East Nashville.
1975
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Richard Fulton, left, takes time out from his campaign for mayor to talk with his high school principal and long-time supporter, W. H. Oliver, right, at East High School. With them is Fulton's daughter-in-law, Mrs. Richard Fulton.
1975
Clifford Allen, right, winner of the Democratic primary for 5th District congressional nominee, receives the congratulations of Metro Mayor Richard Fulton, the man he proposes to succeed in Congress, as returns come.
1975
A group of Democrats display the smiles of their party's return to the governor's office during the inaugural gala at the Municipal Auditorium. They are State House Speaker Ned McWherter, left, Mrs. Virginia Travis, and 5th District U.S. Rep. and Mrs. Richard Fulton.
1976
Tennessee Governor Ray Blanton, left, United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye and Metro Mayor Richard Fulton chat before the Hawaii Democrat Inouye addressed the first Governor's Conference on Tourist Development at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
1984
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Richard Fulton checks out the progress of the work on another phase of the Riverfront Park in downtown Nashville.
1997
Carl T. Rowan, far right, speaks with Richard Fulton, from left and Judge Hamilton Gayden at a book signing of the reissue of his book, "South Of Freedom".
1999
Former Mayor Richard Fulton thanks friends and heads out after conceding the race to Bill Purcell for mayor.
1999
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Mayoral Candidates Richard Fulton, Bill Purcell and Jay West are at the Nashville Association of Professional People meeting prepare to debate each other in their first meeting as candidates.
2012
Co-chairman John Seigenthaler, left, talks with former Metro mayor Richard Fulton and his wife, Sandra, as former city officials gathered to reflect on the history of Metro government after 50 years and its growing pains.
Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Richard graduated from East Nashville High School.
Richard Fulton (left) greets former police chief Joe Casey at a 2013 event.
Fulton was born on January 27, 1927 in Nashville, Tennessee, United States; the son of Lyle Houston Fulton and Labina (Plummer) Fulton.
Fulton graduated from East Nashville High School. Also he studied at the University of Tennessee, where he played for the Volunteers in the football team.
Fulton served in the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946. Then in 1954, he was elected to the Tennessee State Senate, where he served until 1963. Also in 1963, Richard was elected to Congress, where he served as a member of the House of Representatives for the 5th Congressional District of Tennessee. He resigned from the House after his election as mayor of Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County in 1975 and held it for twelve years. Fulton was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1978 and 1986. In addition to his political career, he was active in real estate and government relations.
Fulton was one of the few Southern representatives to support the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Fair Housing Act four years later. He was the first United States House member to hire a black aide when he did so in 1963.
He was an ardent supporter of the civil rights movement.
Quotes from others about the person
"Richard Fulton helped make modern-day Nashville what it is with his leadership as mayor, and he helped America live up to its promises by creating new freedoms with his votes for civil rights, voting rights, health care and fair housing in Congress" - David Briley
On December 23, 1945 Richard Fulton married Jewel Simpson. The marriage produced four children - Richard, Michael, Barry, Donna and Linda. Then he married Sandra Fleischer. They have two stepchildren - Cynthia and Charles.