Background
Tullis was born in Saint Joseph, the seat of Tensas Parish, located along the Mississippi River in northeastern Louisiana, to the attorney and landowner Hugh Tullis (1857–1931) and the former Nellie Watson.
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Hugh Garner
Edit ProfileBusinessman founder leader commodore
Garner Hugh Tullis, Senior, was a businessman and civic leader from New Orleans, Louisiana, who formed his own brokerage firm, Tullis, Craig & Bright, and became a partner of E. F. Hutton & Company He was also a nationally known yachtsman who won the races in 1930, 1932, and 1948 between Saint St. Petersburg, Florida, and Havana, Cuba.
Career
Tullis arrived in New Orleans at the age of sixteen and worked his way from messenger in a cotton firm to become the principal cotton trader in the whole city. He chaired the board of the company until his death. During World World War II, Tullis served as a lieutenant commander in the United States Coast Guard and as commander of the Portuguese of Orleans Security Volunteer Force.
Tullis married the former Mary Lee Brown on October 6, 1916.
Their children were Malcolm McCullough Tullis (born 1917), Mary Lee Tullis (born 1919), Garner Hugh Tullis, Junior. (1923–1930), and Eli Watson Tullis (born 1928).
In 1939, Tullis purchased a historic home in Biloxi, Mississippi, for use as a summer home. lieutenant subsequently became known as the Tullis-Toledano Manor.
After its sale to the city of Biloxi in 1975, it became a popular museum and local attraction.
Many young couples were married on the beautiful grounds of the manor. lieutenant was completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. Tullis "ruled" New Orleans as Rex, King of Carnival in 1935.
His interest in yachts led to his becoming the commodore of the Southern Yacht Club.
He died while cruising off the Gulf of Mexico near Apalachicola, Florida, aboard his yacht Windjammer.
