James E. Fulbright

James Edward Fulbright was born on September 8, 1922, in his grandfather’s house near the banks of Peterson Creek in Gray County, Texas, about 80 miles east of Amarillo. He passed away on May 21, 2011 at the age of 88 years and 8 months. He was a descendant of early Texas pioneers. His great-great grandfather settled in Red River County in 1842 near where the small town of Fulbright exists today. James served his country in combat during World War II, gave 44 years of devoted service to Abilene Christian University, and was a highly respected teacher, preacher, and Bible scholar. He was a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.

James spent the first 20 years of his life in the Texas Panhandle and in eastern New Mexico. One of James’ favorite stories from his youth revolved around life in the New Mexico prairie during the Great Depression of the 1930s. James and some of his cousins discovered that when chased, jackrabbits would run in a wide circle, and eventually return to a location near where they were originally flushed. The boys starting chasing the rabbits in relay fashion, where one cousin would make the wide circle running behind a fleeing rabbit and, when the rabbit came back around, the next cousin would continue the chase. In this manner, the boys would take turns giving chase until the exhausted rabbit was easy to capture. In his later years, James often remarked that he thought his family ate jackrabbits during the Depression because they tasted good; later, he realized they ate jackrabbits because they could afford little else.

In 1942, James enlisted in the Army Reserve Corps while attending Abilene Christian College. He was called to active duty in 1943 and was assigned to the 773rd Amphibious Tractor Battalion following basic training. He was assigned to drive a tracked landing vehicle (LVT) equipped with four .50 caliber machine guns. Two of the original crew was from Texas and they elected to name the vehicle the Texas Tornado. They were given permission by their commanding officer to paint the name in big, bold white letters on the side of the vehicle. James was the only one of the original crew still active at the end of the war. Injuries resulted in a trip home for the other original crew members before the Japanese surrendered. James participated in assault landings on the islands of Saipan, Tinian, Geruma, Tokashiki, and Ie Jima. For its part in the invasion of Saipan and Tinian, the 773rd was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. On Ie Jima, James was a short distance from the famed war correspondent Ernie Pyle when Pyle was killed by machine gun fire. James witnessed the horrific specter of hundreds of Japanese civilians committing suicide by jumping off of cliffs on Okinawa. He was later part of the detail that gathered the bodies.

While on Okinawa, a member of James’ unit spotted a cow at about the same moment a group of hungry marines also discovered the animal. Someone produced a rope, and James, being the only Texan in the group, was given the task of roping the cow. James mounted the front end of a jeep, and the jeep roared ahead with driver and passenger eagerly anticipating fresh steak as the jeep bounced across the rough terrain in pursuit of the hapless bovine. James twirled the lariat and roped the cow on his first toss, securing it well before the marines could reach the animal.

James was in the Philippines training for the invasion of Japan when the Japanese surrendered. He was assigned to the occupation forces in Japan. He drove the Texas Tornado onto the beach for the last time at Tokyo. This LVT was actually the third Texas Tornado - - the original, a casualty of battle, still lies at the bottom of the ocean off the island of Saipan. Following the war, James returned to Abilene Christian College and received a degree in business in 1947. He met Frances Gibson in a business law class, and they were married in 1948. He began working for Abilene Christian College in 1950 where he managed the book store and was in charge of Abilene Christian University Press. He retired in 1994.

A life-long member of the Church of Christ, James preached at Hope Church of Christ, a small rural congregation in Jones County north of Stith, Texas. He preached at Hope for a 19-year span during the 1950s to the early 1970s. During his time preaching at Hope, he was instrumental in establishing and supporting a Church of Christ in San Pedro, Coahuila, Mexico. He cherished the many friendships that were made during his years working with Christians in Mexico. In the late 1970s he preached part time at the Church of Christ in Clyde, Texas. He also preached from time to time in numerous other rural congregations. In recent years, he taught bible classes at Hillcrest Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. He was a well respected bible scholar, and wrote a book published by Abilene Christian University Press about Old Testament Characters entitled “Bound in the Bundle of Life.” James’ life provided the example of Christian love and kindness that helped develop a strong dedication to Christianity in his descendents and many others.

James was an avid outdoorsman and loved spending time in the field with his son and close friends. He instilled a reverence for the land and its wildlife in his son, Tim. His enjoyment of photography carried down through his son to his granddaughter Hannah Vickers.

He is survived by his son, Dr. Timothy Fulbright of Kingsville, Texas, and his wife Venie; one grandchild, Hannah Vickers of Abilene and her husband Eric; and two grandchildren, Charles Mason Vickers and Sawyer Kate Vickers of Abilene. His wife Frances and sister Joyce Whitefield preceded him in death.

Services will be 10:00a.m. Thursday, May 26, 2011 at Hillcrest Church of Christ. Burial will follow in Abilene Municipal Cemetery under the direction of Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory St. Visitation will be Wednesday, May 25, 2011 from 5 to 7p.m. at the funeral home.