By Design – Issue 49, Summer 2020

13 brought to the game. He was made Executive Secretary and became the group’s guiding hand, and he did it with a velvet glove. Paul did not dictate but rather he led, and he did it with an undeniable logic. His patience was incredible, and he was a great listener to all sides of a discussion, and then at the right moment, he would resolve the issue at hand with the perfect compromise.” That guiding hand was appreciated by many ASGCA Presidents. “I know that without him I would have seriously struggled,” says Dick Phelps, ASGCA Fellow, who served as president in 1980-81. “He knew what subjects needed to be written about, what to emphasize and who it should be directed to. “My picture of him will always be the professorial pose with pipe in hand. He kept us in line and had a major role in the maturation of the ASGCA from a drinking, good- old-boys club to a society dedicated to comradery, professionalism, exchanges of technical and design issues, our place in the overall golf industry, and many other areas in which we had major input in the game of golf.” Fullmer was a great support to new members too. “Paul was the Executive Secretary when I became a member,” says ASGCA President Jan Bel Jan. “It was easy to speak with Paul because he was always interested in each person as an individual. He welcomed new members and did his best to help them feel comfortable at their first meeting and every meeting.” “Paul had a gift of carrying a huge network in his head,” says Sandra. “It really was extraordinary how many liaisons he created. One budding architect once called Paul asking if he knew of a firm looking for someone. Paul in fact did, and gave him the number for the Arnold Palmer Design Company. This young man was hired and did extremely well. From then on, every time he would see Paul, he would go down on one knee and say, ‘Nice to see you, Your Eminence!’ and kiss Paul’s Notre Dame ring.” Bel Jan says: “Paul relished learning what was important to you. You learned he cared when he later recalled the smallest details. That was the ‘reporter’ in him.” “Paul was a sportswriter in his early days, and it showed,” says Chad Paul knew how to inform the golf industry about the proper roles of golf course architects Paul Fullmer served as Executive Secretary of ASGCA from 1970 to 2004. He was supported by his wife Sandra throughout his tenure