SIXTY
APRI L 25, 2019 I SSUE NO. 60
LET'S DO IT!
FULLER IS READY TO BRING THE PAIN TROUBLES BEHIND, SUCCESS AHEAD PLUS: STEVE FULLER I N A SPECI AL SEGMENT, THE LAST MAN STANDI NG
WORK + FAMILY + FELLOWSHIP
PREMIER ISSUE OF SIXTY
SIXTY
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS WORK + FAMILY + FELLOWSHIP
WILL & JAMEY The
first
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precious
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You!
FULLER
JAY FULLER
wishes
rich,
of
to
1959
BARBARA FULLER
best
wonderful
SPENCER
years
playing
-
Celebrate
April
are
many
to
knowing
STEPHEN
were
and
GARY FULLER
SIXTY
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TIM FULLER KATHERINE FULLER HIGGINS ANGEL BRUCE CHRISTY DICKEY MARTHA HENSON MERCY KOEHLER ANTOINE LARK SHANE KOEHLER BELINDA & GUS RUBIO BOB MURPHY KATE CAMMACK TIM CALL ROD DENT JOE DICKERSON RANDY COLLINS MIKE QUINN FRANK SOTERA KERRY VH. DAVIS AUSTIN LINEBERRY BEN & BENNIE WHIPPLE THE FAYARDS BILL GRANT MARY SPENCER TOM TAMRACK
MY THREE SONS
Tips for the Perfect Babies
Things You Should Know About Raising Boys
MOM
ELYTSEFIL EREHWESLE
MOM
45/60
MOM
BROTHERS
GT
60 YEARS AGO TODAY '59 PLYMOUTH SAVOY
APRIL 25, 1956
GARY & BARBARA FULLER 2116 STEPHENS WALK DUNWOODY, GA 30338 Stephen, The special memory I would like to share with you happened in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 25th, 1959. Your Mother woke me very early in the morning and said “I think we should go to the hospital” Of course, we left immediately and I was thinking at the time that it would be another day of waiting long hours as had been the case when Tim was born. I had waited all night and was so nervous and upset over not knowing what was going on I couldn’t go to work that day. When we arrived at the Rowan County hospital in Salisbury, N.C. I left your Mother in the emergency room and went to the administration office to sign some papers and before I even started the paperwork the nurse came and said we had a baby boy. I was so shocked I could hardly believe it happened so quick. What I did not realize at the time was that your Mother did not want to go through many hours of waiting in the hospital and had endured her labor pains all night. She was so close to giving birth to you that on the way to the hospital when we went across the tracks at a railroad crossing, the jostling of the crossing almost caused you to be born in a 1959 Plymouth Savoy automobile. I am sure you have not heard these details of your first day on this earth but they are treasured memories for your Mother and me. I am so thankful to God for blessing me with you as my son and I am so very proud of you. God has further blessed us with your two sons Will and Jamey as our grandsons who we love dearly and are also so proud of them and excited about their future. Turning 60 is a major mile marker in life’s journey but I am confident with your continued faith and trust in God and with the gifts of talent and work ethic, you have, you will continue to be a great father and a successful businessman. I pray for you, Will and Jamey every day. I love you! Dad
DIRT BIKES
THE PUNCH OUT
STEPHEN FULLER
The truth behind his success as a dirt bike racer
ISSUE NO. TEEN YEARS
HIGH SPEED CHASE
MOTOR BIKE FUGATIVE BY TIM FULLER
Steve and I got into riding motorcycles when we were young. I got my first when I was 12 and Steve got one soon after. Our favorite thing was to ride in the woods not on the street. We rode all around Dunwoody where we grew up and often would leave in the morning and ride until dark on the weekend. We would also go after school and come home when it got dark nearly every day. We rode on trails under the electrical power lines and on dirt tracks, climbed big hills, rode in creeks, wherever we could go. It was awesome fun and we often had to hose ourselves off in the yard before our mom would let us into the house because we had so much mud on us. One challenge we had was in getting from our house in the neighborhood to where we could actually ride. Our bikes were not street legal and had no license plate, no lights or turn signals, and of course we were not old enough to have a drivers license anyway. So riding on the street was illegal but we did it anyway. One time Steve was riding and I wasn’t with him. The Police saw him and started to chase him. He did what we always did and cut through our neighborhood to go from one street to another to thro off the police. The cops couldn’t drive between houses like we could and we knew all the short cuts. Steve took some short cuts and got close to where it was safe to ride and saw the police again. They were chasing him like an escaped prisoner. So he ran for it on his bike and went into the woods we rode in and where the cops couldn’t follow him. He panicked so he found a place to hide his motorcycle, covered it up with limbs and leaves, and walked home to avoid the cops. The next day he walked back and luckily his bike was still there so he rode it home. It’s funny to think he was once a young teen running from the police like a criminal when you see him today. I am sure he would still love to go riding bikes now.
PUNCH OUT BY TIM FULLER We used to hang out at a pub like place in the Dunwoody Village shopping center when we could drive but before college. Steve and I had many of the same friends since we are close in age and many of us hung out drinking beer at this place. One time we were there with a bunch of friends and I was with one bunch and Steve with another. This friend come running up to me and says your brother is in a fight with some guys in the parking lot! Â Steve and I are not the kind of guys who fight and definitively do not start fights, so this was a big shock for me.
So I go outside only to learn some rednecks had started picking on Steve and another friend of mine looking to start a fight. Steve and my friend decided they had had enough and Steve decked the ring leader and the others ran away! Â Seems funny now but I was SO proud of Steve for decking this guy and I am not sure I could have done the same thing.. Â
HARD WORKER by Tim Fuller
When we were both in college I went to GA State and Steve to GA Tech. Steve was in the architecture program and had to work very hard, much harder than me. I remember many times when my friends and I would go to bars in Buckhead or where ever and stay out till 1:00 am or later. There were many nights that I would leave our house and Steve would be in his room studying. I would come home late and I would see his bedroom light was still on!  I don’t know many people who work as hard as Steve and it started since he was in college. He has always been hard working and when you work for yourself it pays off. Steve is the hardest working person I know and I love him for that.
Uncle Steve B I G
B O W L O F P O C K E T C H A N G E T H E P U G N E X T D O O R
&
When I think back on my childhood, my happiest memories revolve around family. For as long as I can remember, you’ve always been there for holidays, birthdays, special occasions and sometimes just for fun. I can remember dad taking Thomas and I to the old house on Eulalia when mom was busy, to play with you, your big bowl of pocket change, and the pug next door. Around the same time you and dad were bringing us to site visits and telling me to stay out of the red clay which I inevitably tracked everywhere including into the car. You always came with tricks and jokes. I remember walking to Chesnut one morning with Thomas and mom when you passed us on the street, hid in a driveway and jumped out and scared us on the sidewalk. Family dinner at any restaurant wasn’t complete without a full blown masterpiece of a fictional city drawn in crayon across the table. I remember running and hiding at Grammie and Grandpa’s house so we wouldn’t get caught by you and the impending threat of tickle fights and jelly-belly's. We didn’t do a good job because we couldn’t contain the giggles long enough to stay hidden and somehow never managed to lock the door behind us. Long before Jamie and Will were getting thrown around the pool, you would launch Thomas and me while we begged you to stop but also to do it again… and again and again! I remember building architecturally sound gingerbread houses and begging to ride in your car to go see the Christmas lights at Lake Lanier. You always popped in on birthdays to bring me balloons and presents, visited me when my appendix almost exploded, and helped me learn a lot about myself and what I wanted to do in life. You were there for prom photos, graduation photos, our engagement party, and of course our wedding. I’m blessed to have you in my life and thankful that you’ve always been there for me. Logan and I hope this birthday is one of the best yet and we pray that it is full of blessings. Happy Birthday Uncle Steve, we love you!!
Katherine & Logan
YOU'RE GIVEN THIS LIFE BECAUSE YOU'RE STRONG ENOUGH TO LIVE IT.
FROM ONE BROTHER TO ANOTHER Steve, The warmest wishes on your special day, bro! Thanks for being a wonderful brother. I feel so proud to have a brother like you. On this special day, I wish you a "Happy Birthday” and may God bless you.
Jay
TEAM OUTREACH OFFERING FELLOWSHIP
Friday's
Travel to
Antoine Lark
TESTIMONY
WITNESS
PREACHING
RAIN OR SHINE | EVERY SUNDAY | EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND LOTS OF FRIDAYS
THE DREAM TEAM
T Steve and my husband Gus. Everyone thought of them as the Dream Team to work with, which we got a big kick out of. The last pic includes Ben and Bennie Whipple from Cliffs at Mountain Park. Steve designed the home, Dabney was the landscape architect, and we built it. It was a great project and their home has served for many fundraisers and parties over the years. My best memory of Steve is about 30 years ago, we dragged our kids all the way to Atlanta to see a home Steve designed in the parade of homes. It ended up being a home we built for ourselves and lived in for about 7 years in the Greenville, SC area. We were in awe of Steve and his talent and never dreamed we’d not only work with him personally on projects years down the road, but also become his friend. He designed the building and condo we live in today. We knew he was super talented but never knew we’d know him as a man of God with tremendous faith. So that’s the thing we love most about him today – his transparency to share his story, his heart for people, his love of his children, his peaceful and trusting nature, and of course we’ll always be in AWE of his gifts and abilities. He’s a man that lives his faith each day and uses his talents wisely.We love you Steve! Gus and Belinda Rubio
christy PART II
INSIGHTS AND OPINIONS ADVICE BY STEPHEN FULLER
"a joyful life is made up of joyful moments gracefully strung together by trust, gratitude, inspiration and faith." USD3.40 - Brene Brown
I first met you just over twenty years ago when I came in to talk with you about an internship. The office was near Perimeter Mall with scores of employees and you were a super busy young bachelor running a big business. Fifteen years later I showed up to meet and talk with you about an opportunity to work with you again and found that, while I was meeting with the same Stephen Fuller I once worked for and knew, you were a vastly different guy with a vastly different company. Life had dealt you some very hard blows during the fifteen years since we had worked together, but you were still standing tall and still working feverishly at what is your God given gift and passion - creating stunning homes
SELFLESS and places.
Over the last few years I have had the opportunity to work with you closer than
before and get to know you much better. You are still an incredibly busy guy with mountains of work and enormous demands on your time; but between the
deadlines and often on Wednesday evenings I have seen a new side of you: your
steadfast faith in God and your compassion for people. Most people familiar with
architecture know you have a remarkable gift for design, but not as many get the chance to know that you have just as big a gift of heart: for making people feel
special and seen, for making people feel comfortable and making people laugh, and for proudly sharing your faith and your hope with those that need it. I’ve
watched you give generously and selflessly of whatever it was you had to give to so many people; not just on Wednesday nights, but the countless times you dropped everything to help someone that called up or dropped by in a time of
need. And you are always available when someone asks you to pray with them or for them.
Your example has been a great personal influence on me. I always enjoy our talks and hearing your insights and opinions (not that I always agree - but you often make me think about things a bit differently than I had before). You make me laugh on an almost daily basis...and laughing is my favorite. Working with you is a gift. I have been blessed to be a part of your team twice - thank you for taking a chance on me, then and now - I am so lucky to be able to work for someone that I can also call my friend. Wishing you the happiest of birthdays!! Christy
"You are much cheaper as a friend than as a client." RANDY COLLINS
Steve, I have been fortunate enough to know you as a friend, a boss and now a client (you are much cheaper as a friend than as a client). You have always been fun to be around in every one of those relationships. Allison and I were going through old videos this week getting ready for David’s wedding and it was so much fun seeing “Uncle Steve” with the kids during our Christmas and Easter videos of 1994 and 1995. You have always been in our hearts and I am so glad we have reconnected after all these years. Happy 60th Birthday Steve!!!!! The Collins family still loves “Uncle Steve”! Randy Collins Strategies Group 770-366-7210 (cell) www.strategiesgroup.com
Issue 27 | 234
Exodus 35:31
Bezalel Filled With The Spirit of God
5:22-23 • G A L A T I A N S •
PEACE
KINDNESS
Stephen, I shared with you in the past that the first person in Scripture to ever be described as being “filled with the Spirit of God” was an architect and designer, Bezalel (Exodus 35:31). When you and I first met, I immediately came to believe that I had met someone in whom the Lord had put His Spirit. It was not simply because of “intelligence, knowledge, craftsmanship and design skill” (vv. 31, 32), although that is very evident in your life and work. You are uniquely gifted and the legacy of your work will outlast your own lifetime by generations. The evidence of the Lord and His Spirit is definitely present in your skill and your craftsmanship. But what convinced me of the Spirit’s work in your life were His other fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). It is these realities in your life that come together to make a man who is genuinely and powerfully dedicated to the glory of the Lord. As we have worked together on a new building for our church, your genuine love and generosity toward us has been more beautiful than any building you might design (although the one you have designed for us is remarkably beautiful). You have given every evidence of God at work in and through you to bring about His glory in the church. The glory we bring to God encompasses all that we do and the way we do it, and your life and work has demonstrated that. So, both now and the rest of my life the building you are helping us design for the church will serve God’s glory not only in its craftsmanship, but also in the story of how it was designed by your help. May God use it as a place to further glorified Himself, many times over, by the faithful preaching of His Word, adoration through song, and the fellowship and mutual service of the saints to one another. Thank you for all you have done to help us strive toward that goal. Grace and Peace, Shane Koehler
T E A C H I N G
P A S T O R
W E L C O M E
T O
T H E
N E X T
D E C A D E
S T E V E !
The Fayard's S T E V E ! A S W E R S P E N T W I R E A L I Z E P R O D O E S
E F L E C T O V E R O U R T I M E T H S T E P H E N F U L L E R , W E T H A T W E H A V E D O N E 6 J E C T S T O G E T H E R ! Â
T H A T M E A N B U Y 6 , G E T N E X T O N E F R E E ?
W I S H I N G
Y O U A V E R Y B I R T H D A Y !
N A N C Y
A N D
T H E
H A P P Y
G A R Y
2018-2020
MURPHY PRICELESS
STEVE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOUR HIGHNESS!
I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY AND GET TO CELEBRATE AS MANY AS I HAVE.
COME TO HIGHLANDS ON YOUR BIRTHDAY NEXT YEAR AND YOU CAN SOAK UP THE BEAUTY OF YOUR CREATION. SURELY IT WILL BE FINISHED BY THEN. AND BY THE WAY, THANK YOU! IF THIS ONE TURNS OUT TO BE THE EYE TURNER THAT YOU DID FOR ME IN JOHN’S CREEK, IT WILL REALLY BE EVEN MORE THAN SOMETHING SPECIAL!
AGAIN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! CHERISH YOUR YOUTH! I CAN VAGUELY REMEMBER WHEN I WAS AS YOUNG AS YOU. BOB MURPHY
"I'll Get On It"
"An architect who is a true artist in his field. " Ben Whipple
Back when we were first beginning our home building adventure at the Cliffs at Mountain Park, around 2009-10, Stephen was coming up regularly with his camera strapped around his neck to gather inspiration for our new home’s design. As we all know, it is nearly impossible to keep Stephen’s enthusiasm reigned in! Each time we had a meeting, somehow, our home became larger and/or more expensive. Poor Ben would be apoplectic while Stephen was reviewing the plans, and he would always say ‘That’s ok. You just tell me what you would like me to take out, and I’ll get on it’. And each time, Ben would say ‘Well, but I like this, and that part is great, and I don’t want to eliminate this part over here...I guess we will just have to leave it all in, but just don’t add anything else!!’ And then we would get to the next meeting, and start the whole process all over again!! It was truly quite entertaining to watch, and we all got a kick out of it. That is what you get when you hire an architect who is a true artist in his field!! We are so grateful to Gus and Belinda Rubio, owners of Gabriel Builders, for introducing us. We love our home, and would not have wanted anyone else to help us through the process of finding the perfect design for the perfect home site. Happy Birthday Steve! - Ben and Bennie Whipple
GREAT LEADER I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE WORKED FOR YOU AND WITH YOU FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW. THE BUSINESS HAS EXPERIENCED ITS UPS AND DOWNS BUT I HAVE THE CONFIDENCE IN KNOWING THAT YOU ARE A GREAT LEADER THAT NEVER GIVES UP. YOU HAVE TAKEN ON RESPONSIBILITIES/TASKS THAT MOST OF US WOULD SHY AWAY FROM (OK, MAKE THAT RUN FROM) AND YOU ARE WILLING TO SEE THINGS THROUGH TO THE END. YOUR FAITH IN OUR LORD HAS NOT ONLY INSTILLED IN YOU KINDNESS AND PATIENCE, BUT IT HAS ALSO GIVEN YOU THE GIFT OF BRINGING THE LORD INTO OTHER PEOPLE’S LIVES THAT MAY HAVE FALLEN AWAY FROM HIM. I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. MY HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU FOR THAT. I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY AND ARE BLESSED WITH MANY MORE.
Angel ANGEL BRUCE
MENTOR TIM CALL Steve, You have unselfishly taught me so many things about design. My career is successful only by what you have instilled in me. Each client I meet, I emphasize to them how much of an influence you have had on me. I have two brothers just as you do, neither of my brothers I look up to more than I look up to you, you are the best, I love you man. I miss you and miss working with you. -Tim Call
KATE Hey Big Guy! So, I hear you are turning 60! It is hard to believe we spent a third of that time working together. One of my favorite remembrances during that time was attended the NHBA Convention in Las Vegas. We didn’t exhibit but were strategizing our next move for the predesigned homes division. We had recently released a new collection and for the first time published your picture in the introduction. As we walked through the exhibits you could hear people whispering, “that’s him” and eventually they stopped you, and asked for your autograph, and shared how much they loved your work. I remembered thinking I was working with a Rock Star! Turning 60 may add a few wrinkles, or pounds to your waistline and put an ache in your back but it will never take away your positive outlook on life. Keep rocking it, Steve! Kate
South of the Border EL
STEVE THE
LIMBO KING
Ah yes, the memory is filled his righteous disregard for the accumulated strokes he would endure on the fields of friendly strife, and of course, the many excellent adventures we probably should have reconsidered. The 'Pacer' I would fondly call him, always kept his head down and proceeded deliberately into adversity with his straightforward resolve. I, on the other hand, the 'Racer', was profoundly premature in action and deed and rarely considering of consequence. From this polarity the seeds of many fine memories were sown. The highlights of our friendship were many ,with surprisingly few details that can easily be shared. It is with a certain discomfort that I regale Mr. Fuller with a vague but seared recollection of a journey to the West coast we took many years ago. Atlanta Memphis - Los Angeles, California! The Hills of Beverly......Swimming Pools, Movie Stars! A week of endless golden sunsets with the beautiful people. From Hollywood to Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Malibu and the magnificent gardens of Hearst Castle in San Simeon. In our HOT red Mustang convertible, we toured every avenue of opportunity, from seedy back alleys to the sprawling Palm line boulevards, burning through rolls of Kodak film attempting to capture the essences of West coast architecture.
We headed South along the coast to Huntington, Laguna, Oceanside, La Jolla and San Diego. Just the two of us...touring, dining, drinking and dancing with the natives of this surfers paradise. When we hit the Mexican border, our heads were so filled with this lifestyle that we temporarily left the comfortable boundaries of rational thought. As we crossed over into Tijuana, an annoying alarm went off in the back of my brain. Something the agent at the rental car desk was droning on about. Possibly, something to do with not leaving the country with his shiny red convertible. Deep in the bowels of this sleepy Mexican border town, we came across a broken down bar with a sign dangling from the building....3 for 1 tequila! ValHalla! We found our seats in a dark corner of this wretched place filled with every sort of human malady imaginable and patiently waited for the limbo contest to start. Suddenly, from all the way across the dark room I hear this distinct female screech....'STEEEEEVE??...... I couldn't tell if I had actually heard that or if the tequila and hot sun had finally taken their toll until this drunken woman raced across the crowded, bleach mopped floor and threw herself in Steve's arms...'IT IS YOU!!!!' she bawled! As the rest of her gaggle descended upon our corner, I realized these drunks were the flight crew of a Delta flight from Atlanta laying over in San Diego for the night. Steve had apparently designed this woman's house years before and her delight was obvious at this most unfortunate reunion. Being the gracious host that he is, we proceed to limbo our way into the afternoon with many more rounds of 'Tequila del Toro'. FINALLY, as the sun was setting we found our way back to our car, trophy in hand. Waving and singing as we blew past the parking attendant in our shiny red convertible Mustang straight into the waiting arms of the Mexican police. Apparently Juan, the parking lot attendant had notified his cousins Raphael and Julio of our rental car arrival. In seconds, they had us out of the car throwing questions about the car and most importantly, the insurance. Ping!! The rental car attendants droning suddenly started playing in the back of my mind again......'blah blah blah you are not insured in Mexico so whatever you do, DON"T take this shiny convertible Mustang into Mexico!' was the gist of it. Unable to produce any insurance, these two young police brutes were in our faces about how BIG our trouble was now with the Mexican Government! The car was going to be impounded and we were going to be on a bus to Guadalajara until a judge would see us on Wednesdays....either this or the next. OR....we could makes some arrangements, right here and now (before they dropped a dime bag of smack onto the back seat) and clear this whole thing up. So we emptied our pockets, relieving me of my $65 and Steve's $827.36. They pointed us toward the boarder and vanished with all of our cash. We limped our way back into the good ole USA with our shiny convertible in a tequila fog, reeking of vomit and dog. 'Estupidos Gringos' waved the border agents. They had seen our kind before. Happy Birthday to you Senor....
ROD DENT
Frank Sotera My 22 year work relationship and friendship with Stephen will always be something that I will hold close to me. His faith, love of family and friends has always inspired me be a better person. His boundless creativity, passion and drive keeps me in awe today as it did 22 years ago when I first started working with him. Happy 60th my Brother! Let's keep moving
Joe Dickerson
forward!
Friend Steve ...
Lots of good memories from my time working with
Love,
you and my other friends at Stephen Fuller, Inc. From the Bob Timberlake home, furniture and
Frank & Jane Sotera Fuller Team Class Member 1997-2012 Life long Friend
accessories business, to the licensed builder program to the Project Manager set up and on and on. But of all those “adventures,” I believe the comments I received from a custom home client I was pre-
"WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD, OPENING NEW DOORS, AND DOING NEW THINGS, BECAUSE WE'RE CURIOUS AND CURIOSITY KEEPS LEADING US DOWN NEW PATHS." - WALT DISNEY
qualifying summed it up best. As I recall the couple was from Louisiana and wanted to build a more “child friendly” home. On the second visit, they brought me in a copy of Architectural Digest featuring their current home. To say it made Versailles look like a shack was an understatement. The wife, who was pregnant, said all the marble, etc. was; “just too cold for raising children!” They agreed to all the “rules;” minimum of 15% of the home price to interior build out and another minimum 15% exterior landscaping/hardscaping, etc.; so I set the initial design meeting.
After you left that initial design meeting, she started crying and told me she “couldn’t believe how understanding you were of exactly what they wanted in their home!” Said she cried when they worked with the architect on their current home, but it was because he refused to design it as they wanted. In summary Steve; you are blessed with at least two gifts from God; your designing / creative talent and your charismatic ability to work with all people as well as understanding what your clients are asking and putting it to paper. Happy Birthday!
LINEBERRY
STEPHEN - THOUGH WE HAVE ONLY BEEN RECENTLY ACQUAINTED, IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO GET TO KNOW YOU SINCE THE COMMENCEMENT OF OUR FIRST PROJECT.
TIPS FOR HOW TO BUILD A STEPHEN FULLER HOME
AUSTIN
WISHING YOU THE HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS ON YOUR 60TH AND MAY YOU BE GENEROUSLY BLESSED IN LIFE AND HEALTH IN THE MANY YEARS AHEAD. - AUSTIN LINEBERRY
PLEASE MEASURE
MIKE QUINN Structural Made Easy
Our firm has been providing structural engineering to Steve since August 1992. I've been to countless meetings and golf outings where Steve has been present; however, I'm embarrassed to say I know as much about Steve as he does about gravity, engineering principles, and roof plans. I do know he likes pizza. Happy Birthday, Steve! -Mike Quinn Michael Quinn & Associates, P.C. 6767 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard Suite P Norcross, Georgia 30092 770-452-0744
THE WAY IT STARTED
BILL GRANT
A long time ago, about 1984 or 1985, Stephen Fuller and Bill Grant met in the now closed Burger King in Dunwoody and made the deal that lead to the organization and startup of Design Traditions, Inc. and later American Home Gallery, Inc. We didn’t have pads of paper and neither one of us had enough money or even the inclination to hire an attorney. We negotiated, made the deal, wrote it out on a Burger King napkin – both signed and ate our hamburger. The simplest deal ever that endured for twenty years or more.
MARTH.
1992Present Martha Bracey Henson
I have many fond memories where you are concerned. Too many to actually count. In DC I talked you into going for a drink to the famous Willard Hotel where President Lincoln once stayed, from there we took a limo to the airport because at that time a limo cost the same as a cab. On a trip to Memphis we made a side visit to Graceland. You were in awe of the small scale of Elvis's house and in true Fuller form made funny comments during the tour keeping us in stitches. At Elvis's grave site in his side yard you prayed for him. At Masquerade we danced in foam with Marymac and your cousin, and another time attempted line dancing at Gilly's famous western bar in Houston. These memories and others are ingrained in my mind never to be forgotten and always bring me immediate glee  when I reflect on them. Your gifts are abundant yet one that I appreciate above all others is your brilliant sense of humor and innate ability for immediate familiarity - no matter how much time may go by or where either of us are in our lives - when we reconnect the magic remains as an unspoken means of understanding each other's ideas and visions with no question and with great enthusiasm and appreciation.  I attribute this capacity to your ability to communicate so beautifully your ideas, thoughts and of course the mastery of those fabulous metaphors you use that I find utterly genius, completely witty and always 100% spot on conveying the meaning of whatever topic being discussed. Reuniting with you this second time has been such a joy. You have matured into a Knight who slays dragons on behalf of those you care about and love. You are a hero, an inspiration and one of the finest leaders I have had the privilege of working with. Today we celebrate you and thank God for gracing our lives with your presence.  -Happy Birthday Steve. Love, Marth.
Will & Jamey
Happy Birthday Dad!
AN UNMATCHED KINDNESS Dad took us skiing to Park City for our first time skiing. It wasn’t easy the first time, in fact, it was pretty difficult. But even though we had a hard time getting into it, he did everything he could to encourage us and make us feel more confident. By the end of our trip, Jamey and I had developed a basic foundation for ski skills, all thanks to Dad. His loving nature did absolute wonders for us when we were in an uncomfortable position. This is just one of many examples of our Dad’s unmatched kindness and compassion. Even when you may be having a difficult time with a task, he’s there the whole way to motivate you, love you, and make you feel better about yourself. I’m so thankful for my Dad because of how much he cares about me and how he’s always there for me. - Will and Jamey
MARCH 15, 2004
WILLIAM HAYES FULLER
DECEMBER 22, 2005
JAMES VAUGH FULLER
Family
Childhood
SUPERHERO
LIVING THE LIFE OF A SUPERHERO
ISSUE 12 NO CHARGE / EVER
TAMRACK THE DUDE ABIDES
ONE OF A KIND | ARTISTIC MASTERY Steve and I go back over 20 years ago with a project called Jefferson Landing. His lakeside cottage designed spawned the very successful rebirth of a development in West Jefferson, NC. The next monumental shift was when I asked him to sketch out something in his vision for a chapel on top of the majestic point of the Cliffs At Glassy Mountain. When I gave this sketch to Jim Anthony the owner, he said “that’s what I want”, and today stands one of the most iconic chapels in the country. That one beautiful project change the trajectory of the Cliffs Communities because from then on the owner wanted to define his seven communities with beautiful architecture that Stephen had set the tone forever changing what that great community turned into. (Google Cliffs Chapel) His artistic mastery has made communities and homes of beauty and intrinsic architecture with lasting beauty that will stand the test of time. I consider Steve a good friend with a great heart! He is truly one of a kind!!!
MARY SPENCER A THOUSAND MEMORIES
We worked together for just a few years, but so many memories... All 20 years ago... I was there when Steve turned 40 and we thought that was soooo old!... Strategy lunches, working with Patty Loveless, Tom Glavine, trips to the mountains, the lakes and to Southern Livings offices in Birmingham, all great adventures... Steve gave me flowers for my birthday one year, still probably the most beautiful arrangement I've ever received ... An old leaky building for an office, surprised it is still standing but once again available for lease... Desks made out of folding tables... Watercolors and graphic arts and writing books and presentations... Awards submissions and winning national Builder Magazine awards... Sitting across a big table as he made magic with pen and paper....
WATCH OUT APRIL 2020