A millionaire at twenty-nine years of age, Millard Fuller was chasing a rabbit that most of us love to chase. He caught it, realized it wasn’t real, and chose to give himself to what is real. He actually believed that if he sought God’s kingdom and his righteousness first, then other things would take care of themselves! —Tony Campolo
Millard Fuller was the founder and president of Habitat for Humanity for 29 years prior to founding The Fuller Center for Housing in 2005. Fuller’s business expertise and entrepreneurial drive made him a millionaire by age 29. Then, after a re-dedication of his life to family and to following God’s path, Fuller and his wife, Linda, decided to sell their possessions and give their money to the poor. Following mission work in Africa, the Fullers founded Habitat for Humanity in Americus, Georgia, in 1976. Beyond the American Dream is the first of eleven books that Fuller wrote during his lifetime. He received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian award, and more than fifty honorary doctorate degrees for his outstanding leadership toward meeting the goal of eliminating poverty housing worldwide.
Beyond the American Dream
Millard Fuller was the author of eleven books and awarded more than a dozen honorary doctorate degrees. He was a millionaire before age thirty and gave away his entire fortune before he was forty. He was a lawyer, a friend to presidents and world leaders, and an advocate for the poor. He was a husband, father, and grandfather. He was a tall, skinny kid with big ears from Lanett, Alabama. He was founder of Habitat for Humanity and the Fuller Center for Housing, both movements organized to eliminate substandard housing worldwide. Because of his unfailing vision and tenacity, Millard was responsible for sheltering more than a million people who had been living in poverty. When Millard left business at age thirty and turned his life in a new direction, he began writing an autobiography. He kept a journal in his desk and wrote in detail about his business and law ventures. In 1968, Millard finished the story of his journey from pauper to millionaire to home builder. In 1970, a publisher offered to consider the book “at a later time,” and the manuscript was packed away. His wife, Linda, occasionally would ask him about getting it published, but Millard would reply, “Not now. I’m too busy.” This is that story.
Fuller
Autobiography/Christian Living
beyond_american_dream_int_tp
7/29/10
3:02 PM
Page 2
beyond_american_dream_int_tp
7/29/10
3:02 PM
Page 3
Chapter 1
A Million Dollars “Congratulations.” “For what?” “You’re a millionaire! Here’s the financial statement. See for yourself.” Marilyn Black, secretary-treasurer of our company, was excitedly telling me that I had made it. “We’ve just completed statements for the company and for you personally, and you’re worth a million dollars! Isn’t that wonderful?” It was early fall in 1964. Hot outside, but not inside. We were cool. Sitting in a plush, cushioned chair on thick carpets, in an airconditioned paneled office with a huge oak desk sprawled out in front of me, indeed, I thought it was wonderful! A millionaire before the age of thirty. Co-owner of a prosperous, dynamic publishing and direct mail business in Montgomery, Alabama. No serious problems in business. Everything going my way. A financial statement showing my worth at a million dollars. Who wouldn’t agree that such a state of affairs was wonderful? Every young man in the state of Alabama—in the whole nation, for that matter— would envy me if he knew. Marilyn stood there for a moment, beaming. She was happy because I was happy. She was that way. Miss Marilyn Black walked into my office for the first time in November 1962. Our business and law offices were then located near downtown Montgomery in an old house that we had converted into an office building. We had only ten employees. Marilyn had interviewed for the job of typist and receptionist.
beyond_american_dream_int_tp
4
7/29/10
3:02 PM
Page 4
BEYOND THE AMERICAN DREAM
When I first met Marilyn, she was not exuberant. She was quiet and correct in her manners. I remember that she was very young and had long black hair. I asked a lot of questions that first day. She answered everything with pleasant seriousness. Among other things, she gave the names of several references. After the interview, she left to return to her place of employment at the time. I thought about the interview for a few minutes and decided to hire her without making any reference checks. I waited long enough for her to return to her office, then picked up the phone and dialed. I told her she was hired. That was that. Marilyn Black started to work for Fuller & Dees Company and Dees and Fuller Attorneys-at-Law the next week. My assessment of her was not wrong. If anything, I underestimated her ability. She tore through work. A fast typist, accurate, serious about her work, diligent, and efficient in every way, she quickly learned her way around the company, which was growing and fast becoming the most important phase of our activities. When we had to replace our office manager in early 1963, Marilyn was offered the job. She cried that day in my office. She was afraid of the responsibility of supervising an office force that had by then grown to more than twenty people. My business partner, Morris Dees, came in to help me plead with Marilyn to take the promotion. She finally accepted and immediately moved into her new job with renewed vigor. She cried some more in the weeks ahead, but she learned quickly and soon was doing a great job. On this particular day, her appearance had not changed, but she had matured a lot, learned a lot, and climbed to the top in our young, rapidly expanding company. She was the youngest corporation officer in the city and one of the best. Marilyn was secretary-treasurer of our various corporations and dealt with all phases of her responsibilities as if she owned the entire operation. She had come a long way since her first visit to our office in 1962. So had the company. And so had I. Marilyn was happy because I had a million-dollar financial statement, and I was happy about that, too.
A millionaire at twenty-nine years of age, Millard Fuller was chasing a rabbit that most of us love to chase. He caught it, realized it wasn’t real, and chose to give himself to what is real. He actually believed that if he sought God’s kingdom and his righteousness first, then other things would take care of themselves! —Tony Campolo
Millard Fuller was the founder and president of Habitat for Humanity for 29 years prior to founding The Fuller Center for Housing in 2005. Fuller’s business expertise and entrepreneurial drive made him a millionaire by age 29. Then, after a re-dedication of his life to family and to following God’s path, Fuller and his wife, Linda, decided to sell their possessions and give their money to the poor. Following mission work in Africa, the Fullers founded Habitat for Humanity in Americus, Georgia, in 1976. Beyond the American Dream is the first of eleven books that Fuller wrote during his lifetime. He received numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian award, and more than fifty honorary doctorate degrees for his outstanding leadership toward meeting the goal of eliminating poverty housing worldwide.
Beyond the American Dream
Millard Fuller was the author of eleven books and awarded more than a dozen honorary doctorate degrees. He was a millionaire before age thirty and gave away his entire fortune before he was forty. He was a lawyer, a friend to presidents and world leaders, and an advocate for the poor. He was a husband, father, and grandfather. He was a tall, skinny kid with big ears from Lanett, Alabama. He was founder of Habitat for Humanity and the Fuller Center for Housing, both movements organized to eliminate substandard housing worldwide. Because of his unfailing vision and tenacity, Millard was responsible for sheltering more than a million people who had been living in poverty. When Millard left business at age thirty and turned his life in a new direction, he began writing an autobiography. He kept a journal in his desk and wrote in detail about his business and law ventures. In 1968, Millard finished the story of his journey from pauper to millionaire to home builder. In 1970, a publisher offered to consider the book “at a later time,” and the manuscript was packed away. His wife, Linda, occasionally would ask him about getting it published, but Millard would reply, “Not now. I’m too busy.” This is that story.
Fuller
Autobiography/Christian Living