WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Spring 2009

Happy Birthday, Albert

BY DAVID DINELL '05
Albert Fulton
Albert Fulton fs ’32 celebrated his 100th birthday in the
company of family and friends on Jan. 17.

“I don’t know why I’m here after all these years,” he muses at Grasslands Estates, an assisted living and retirement home in west Wichita. “But I am. I’ve had an interesting life and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

When Fulton started going to school at the University of Wichita back in 1927, it was the era of flappers and Model Ts; the campus had fewer than 1,000 students and only a handful of buildings.

Fulton didn’t graduate from WU, where he started out learning to be an engineer; instead, he transferred
his credits to Kansas City-Western Dental College in Kansas City, Mo., where he finished his undergraduate education and completed dental training. 

During World War II, he served as dental surgeon with the 1st Armored Division before returning to Wichita to  work in the family dental practice, marry and raise three children. For the past 35 years, Fulton has been retired — but not inactive. Along with being physically active, Fulton relishes meeting new people and  having conversations, so he sits at different places in the dining room in order  to talk to a variety of other residents. Socializing is something Fulton loves to do.

Service Medal
During WWII, Fulton served
with the 1st Armored Division.

This Shocker doesn’t spend much time pondering how he’s lived a century, 
but does suspect good genes have helped. All of his grandparents lived long,
full lives.

The three-day weekend celebration for his 100th birthday included a family dinner and a service at Grace Presbyterian Church, which also was marking its 100th
and where Fulton was the first child baptized. 

It was a fitting celebration, says Fulton — adding with his dry sense of humor: “It’s not very often that I live to  be 100.”


AT THE CENTER

Shocker Faces

Shocker personalities show up everywhere. Take a look!

Showcasing Shocker Pride

The 9th Annual Shocker Honors Scholar Banquet, a joint effort by the WSU Alumni Association and the Office of Admissions, provided an opportunity for some of the area's top academic achieving high school juniors to learn about Wichita State.

One for the Record Books

Joe Williams fs '81 decided to mark the 30-year anniversary of his 1978 record-setting, 67-yard field goal by coming back to campus from his Mississippi home.

Shocker Tales of WU

It was a time to share memories and meet friends from years past when graduates of the University of Wichita Class of 1958 re-connected on campus Oct. 2-4 for their 50-year reunion.

Happy Birthday, Albert

Albert Fulton fs '32 celebrated his 100th birthday in the company of family and friends on Jan. 17, 2008.

Joining the Alumni Ranks

After years of going to class, writing papers and taking exams, 170 graduating seniors were toasted for their academic efforts at the 3rd Annual Senior Luncheon, sponsored by Capitol Federal.

Shockers Visit Frogs

Traveling Wichita State men's basketball fans, university administrators and WSU alumni from the Fort Worth area met at the Mellow Mushroom before the Shockers took to the court Dec. 8, 2008, against the Horned Frogs of TCU.

Dinner and a Game

Bob Schutte '67 and Kevin and Diana '79 Roberts played host to members of Wichita State's nationally ranked volleyball team at a Nov. 1, 2008, dinner in Normal, Ill.

FORE! The 9th Annual Shocker Open is April 23

This spring, for the ninth year, Shocker golfers will come together for an afternoon of competitive fun at Wichita's Willowbend Golf Course.

President's Corner

Since our last The Shocker, your alumni association has been busy with a multitude of activities in support of our mission and of WSU.

Director's Corner

This February during planning for our 53rd annual WSU Alumni Awards banquet, I was again struck with the calibre and the diversity of the contributions made to our university and society by our honorees.