William Fuller Collection

About William Fuller

William Gardiner Fuller was born in Trenton, New Jersey on February 11, 1895 and died in Dallas, Texas on November 3, 1978. His first contact with aviation was with Wright Aeronautical in New Brunswick, New Jersey, building Hispano-Suiza aircraft engines. He soloed in a Curtiss Jenny at Love Field, Dallas. More importantly, he founded Meacham Field, Fort Worth Municipal Airport in 1925 and served as its manager until 1942. Fuller acted as Vice President and Factory Manager for Globe Aircraft Corporation from 1942 to 1946 and as Chief of Airport Management and Maintenance Division for the Civil Aeronautics Administration in Washington, D.C. from 1946 through 1950. From 1950 to 1964, he was Director of Airport in Fort Worth, Texas developing the Greater Southwest (Amon Carter) Airport and was responsible for both Fort Worth Municipal Airports.

About the Collection

The photographs give a unique and invaluable insight into Fuller’s involvement in the development of the local Dallas/Fort Worth and Texas aviation and airport industry, which today is one major cornerstone of the region’s vibrant and thriving economy. The images show Fuller’s invention to improve runway security through flexible runway lights, aerial views of Love Field, Meacham Field, Barron Field and other airfields in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, as well as airport buildings, airplanes, members of the city council, and Fuller himself. Of interest are non-aviation related topics like aerial views of San Antonio, Houston, and El Paso, along with recreational photographs related to Texas life that make this collection commendable for preserving local and Texas history. View a complete guide to the collection housed in the Special Collections and Archives Division at the University of Texas at Dallas.