Long time Mineral County resident, Harold Fuller will be the 2019 Armed Forces Day honorary marshal after being chosen by residents, friends and family.
An important contributor to the Independent-News each week, Fuller is an avid historian of all people, places and things of Mineral County past.
Born in Wetunka, Okla. on Sept. 28, 1934, he moved with his mother, Ann; stepfather, Dwayne Howell and brother, Jerry to Babbitt when he was 12 years old. His love for the area is reflected by his youth spent discovering the mining camps of Mineral County.
He joined Troop 27 of the Boy Scouts of America soon after arrival and would earn his Eagle Scout badge in 1951. With his fellow scouts, he would spend weeks in the Sierras camping out and began to appreciate the personal sacrifices that the scout leaders made to make the adventures a reality. During his time in the scouts, he was given the nickname “Okie” by his friends.
In 1952, Fuller would enter into workforce, spending the summer working at the Naval Ammunition Depot in the shipping and receiving department taking care of war time materials.
When the National Guard unit was mobilized in Hawthorne on Dec. 4, 1952, Fuller was among one of the first to sign up. He had plans to join the U.S. Navy after high school graduation and the National Guard seems like a step in that direction. The Korean War ended just a few months later and the Navy no longer needed the services of Fuller.
He would continue working at the depot and in October 1953 was transferred into the base electric shop and entered into the Navy Apprentice Program to become an electrician.
On Aug. 6, 1955, Laura Louise Kinkade would become Fuller’s wife at the First Baptist Church in Hawthorne. Their marriage, 64 years this year, brought forth four children and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Harold would begin ‘moonlighting’ and helping Mineral County residents with their electrical issues, after hours from the base. He would obtain his contractor’s license in 1964 and started his own electrical business. In 1965, Fuller would hire a young electrician named Kay Benscoter, who would become a long time associate and even longer friend.
Fuller would take advantage of opportunities at the depot and moved up the ladder with various management positions before leaving in 1986. He continued to run Fuller Electric, Inc.
Harold has been involved in numerous charities, civic and fraternal organizations over the years but most know his as Mineral County’s Historian.
“Harold is a real treasure for Mineral County. Not only is he a human Wikipedia for all things Hawthorne, he is actively preserving the history of the town and surrounding areas with his Facebook posts and the conversations he has on a daily basis.” Richard Powell, former resident of the depot, whose father Col. Royce M. Powell was the first Army commander at the depot. “I can’t think of a better choice to be honorary marshal of the 69th Annual Armed Forces Day parade. I’m honored to count him among my friends.”
Fuller will be joined by his wife, Laura as he celebrates Armed Forces Day in the town he calls home.
