Robert D. Fulton

Robert David Fulton (May 13, 1929 – February 21, 2024) was an American politician who briefly served as the 37th governor of Iowa during the first 16 days of 1969, making him the shortest serving governor of Iowa. He also served as the lieutenant governor of Iowa from 1965 to 1969.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Robert D. Fulton
Fulton in 1967
37th Governor of Iowa
In office January 1, 1969 – January 16, 1969
Preceded by	Harold Hughes
Succeeded by	Robert Ray
37th Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
In office January 17, 1965 – January 1, 1969
Governor	Harold Hughes
Preceded by	W. L. Mooty
Succeeded by	Roger Jepsen
Member of the Iowa Senate
In office 1962–1964
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
In office 1958–1960
Personal details
Born	(1929-05-13)May 13, 1929 Waterloo, Iowa, U.S.
Died	February 21, 2024(2024-02-21) (aged 94)
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Rachel Breault ​ ​ (m. 1955; died 2015)​
Children	4
Education	Waterloo East High School Iowa State Teachers College (BS) University of Iowa (JD)
Military service
Branch	United States Air Force
Service years	1953-1955

Early life and education

Fulton was born in Waterloo, Iowa, to Lester and Fern Fulton.^[1][2][4][5] He graduated from Waterloo East High School, then earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Iowa State Teachers College in 1952 and a Juris Doctor from the State University of Iowa College of Law in 1958.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

He served from 1953 to 1955 in the Air Force.^[2][5]

Career

He served as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 1958 to 1960, and in the Iowa Senate from 1962 to 1964.^[1][3][4][5] He then ran for and won the office of lieutenant governor, serving in that role from January 17, 1965 to January 1, 1969.^[1][3][4][5] During his tenure as Lt. Governor, he helped to get capital punishment outlawed in Iowa.^[5]

He then served briefly as governor from January 1 to January 16, 1969, following Governor Harold Hughes' election to the United States Senate and subsequent resignation.^[1][3][4][5] Fulton was the last Democrat to serve as Governor of Iowa until the 1999 inauguration of Tom Vilsack.

The office of Iowa governor was taken over by Robert D. Ray on January 16, 1969.^[4] Ray had won the gubernatorial election in November 1968, but, as per the state constitution, was not eligible to assume the role of governor until that day.^[6]

He ran in the 1970 Iowa Gubernatorial primary, against William J. Gannon, winning by just 1935 votes.^[7] He lost in the general election against Robert Ray, losing by 34483 votes.^[3][5][8]

After leaving the governor's office, Fulton served as a member of the Democratic National Committee, and was a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention.^[1][4]

Personal life and death

Fulton was married to Rachel Breault on September 10, 1955.^[2][3][4][5] They had four children.^[2][4][9] He met Rachel at Westover Air Reserve Base while attending an USO event.^[3][5] Rachel died on July 1, 2015, of Alzheimer's Disease, aged 82.^[3][4][5][9]

For the last decade of his life, Fulton resided at Jones Harrison Senior Living in Minneapolis.^[5]

He died on February 21, 2024, in Minneapolis at age 94, of natural causes.^[3][4] At the time of his death, he was the last living former American governor who left office in the 1960s.