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Bill Fulmer – A Life Revolving Around Cars

I guess that I have been an old car nut since my first car in 1957, which was a 1952 BelAir Chevrolet. The car was my means of transportation through high school. In 1960 that Chevrolet was replaced with a 1955 BelAir hard top which I drove while attending Weatherford Junior College.

While in college I became friends with a man who had a 1928 Chevrolet coach that I later purchased from his wife after his death. When we brought the car home everyone wanted to know what I was going to do with it. It didn’t take long to get the car driveable but Uncle Sam came calling and off to the Army I went.

During my tour in the military, a Chevrolet dealer from California came to see the ‘28 and made an offer to purchase it. Selling the car had not been on my mind, but my father had moved the car out of storage and I didn’t want the car to deteriorate. My mother convinced me to sell it to the dealer and then buy another when I got out of the service.

After getting out of the Army in 1965, a search for an old car began to replace the ’28 that had been sold. I found a 1931 Chevrolet 5 window coupe that did not have an engine and transmission. Don Dunlap and Doc Clinch suggested that I join the VCCA, as it would help me in finding the parts that I needed. I joined the VCCA in 1969.

In 1969 I married my wife Dianne, who didn’t realize what a car nut I was. Also, that year I purchased a 1934 Chevrolet 4 door sedan.

Doc Clinch, Don Dunlap and I met Jim Harris, who was trying to get enough VCCA members together to start a local region. In April 1971, we had enough people to apply for a charter. We met at Meadowbrook City Park off Abrams Street so that all the members could sign the application for the charter, and the first VCCA region in Texas was formed on April 25, 1971.

In 1972, we purchased a 1938 Chevrolet pickup and in 1984, a 1936 Chevrolet coupe. Dianne had told me, “No more old cars in pieces”, so Hancel Brannon helped me get the car home and assemble it so when my wife saw it she would see a complete car.

Dianne and I have attended all the VCCA national anniversary meets except the first one in Indianapolis. We are also planning to go to the 50th in Flint this summer.

By: Bill Fulmer, April, 2011

Editor’s Note:

Bill Fulmer was one of the first board members on the Lone Star Region board when the region was formed in 1971. He went on to serve in the capacity of director of the LSR in 1975 and also as a board member several more times.

Dianne was the Christmas Party Chairman in 1974, which was the first year that the Lone Star Region had their party at the Vandergriff/Duncan Center.

Bill and Dianne have a son and a daughter. Their son Troy lives in San Antonio and has one son, with another one due to be born in June. Their daughter Tracey lives in Ft. Worth. Needless to say, Bill and Dianne are very proud grandparents.
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