Franklin Oliver Fuller

Franklin Oliver Fuller
Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives
In office
January 9, 1917 – December 4, 1918
Preceded byJohn William Woods
Succeeded byR. Ewing Thomason
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
In office
January 8, 1907 – January 10, 1911
Preceded byMulti-member district
Succeeded byMulti-member district
Constituency19th district
In office
January 14, 1913 – December 4, 1918
Preceded byBenjamin Franklin Cathey
Succeeded byMulti-member district
Constituency11th district
Personal details
Born(1873-11-02)November 2, 1873
Melrose, Texas, US
DiedAugust 9, 1934(1934-08-09) (aged 60)
Houston, Texas, US
PartyDemocratic
RelationsRalph Wallace (great-grandson)
OccupationPolitician, lawyer

Franklin Oliver Fuller (November 2, 1873 – August 9, 1934) was an American politician and lawyer. A Democrat, he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives, including a term as Speaker of the House.

Early life and education

Fuller was born on November 2, 1873, in Melrose, Texas, a settlement in Nacogdoches County, the son of Benjamin Franklin Fuller and Josephine (née Green) Fuller. Educated at public schools,[1] he studied at Sam Houston State University and Southern Normal University.[2] He graduated from the former in 1901, with a Bachelor of Laws, and from the latter in 1903, earning a Bachelor of Arts.[3]

Career

From 1894 to 1904, Fuller was a schoolteacher,[1] working in Nacogdoches, San Augustine, San Jacinto, and Walker Counties. He also served as principal of schools in Coldspring and Oakhurst.[4] In 1901, he was admitted to the bar in Tennessee,[5] after which he began practicing in Coldspring.[4] From 1904 to 1906 was district attorney of San Jacinto County.[2]

Fuller was a Democrat. He was a member of the Texas House of Representatives, from January 8, 1907, to January 10, 1911, and again from January 14, 1913, to December 4, 1918. He served as Speaker of the House, from January 9, 1917, until the end of his tenure. He represented the 19th district from 1907 to 1911, then represented the 11th district from 1913 to 1918.[6] Ideologically, he was liberal.[7]

Fuller declined running in the 32nd Texas Legislature in order to handle issues with his businesses.[2] He was unanimously elected Speaker of the House.[4] As Speaker, he conflicted with Governor James E. Ferguson on the issue of Prohibition, with Fuller being for it.[2] On August 1, 1918, he called a special session to impeach Ferguson – an unconstitutional act – which led to Ferguson's resignation.[2][8][9]

While in the House, Fuller was chairman of the Committees on Forestry; on Liquor Traffic; and on Private Corporations. He was a member of the Committees on Banks and Banking; on Common Carriers; on Criminal Jurisprudence; on Counties; on Examination of Comptroller's and Treasurer's Accounts; on Federal Relations; on Insurance; on Judicial Districts; on the Judiciary; on Penitentiaries; on Reforms in Civil and Criminal Procedure; and on Rules.[6]

During World War I, Fuller was chairman of the San Jacinto County Council of Defense. From October to December 1918, he was a captain in the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, being part of a group of 200 lawyers who were planned to be sent to Europe, but were ultimately not.[1] He served in the Texas Military Forces,[2] under Jacob Franklin Wolters.[1]

In 1920, Fuller moved to Houston, where he practiced law.[2] He was a member of the partnership Fuller & Fuller, with his son, E. E. Fuller.[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1926 Texas lieutenant gubernatorial election.[7]

Personal life and death

On April 28, 1895, Fuller married Lizzie Holt, with whom he had five children. He was a Baptist, as well as a member of the Freemasons.[1] He died on August 9, 1934, aged 60, in Houston.[2] He was buried at Hollywood Cemetery, in Houston.[10] His great-grandson was Ralph Wallace.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Davis, Ellis A.; Grobe, Edwin H. (1921). The New Encyclopedia of Texas (PDF). Texas Development Bureau. p. 2099.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Trapp, Billie. "Franklin Oliver Fuller: Texas State Representative and Speaker of the House". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
  3. ↑ Fifield, James Clark (1918). The American Bar. J.C. Fifield Company. p. 641.
  4. 1 2 3 Presiding Officers of the Texas Legislature 1846-2016 (PDF). Texas Legislative Council. 2016. p. 181.
  5. ↑ Daniell, L. E. Texas (PDF). pp. 689, 691.
  6. 1 2 "Member profile for Franklin Oliver Fuller - Texas Legislative Reference Library". lrl.texas.gov. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
  7. 1 2 "Twenty Years Ago". The Houston Chronicle. 23 November 1945. p. 18. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
  8. ↑ Brannon-Wranosky, Jessica; Glasrud, Bruce A. (2017-03-17). Impeached. Texas A&M University Press. pp. 90, 91. ISBN 978-1-62349-527-5.
  9. ↑ Sharp, James Roger; Sharp, Nancy Weatherly; Atwater, Kevin D.; Petonito, Gina; Ritter, Charles F.; Wakelyn, Jon L. (1999-06-30). American Legislative Leaders in the South, 1911-1994. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. pp. 116, 117. ISBN 978-0-313-03206-6.
  10. ↑ "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Fuller". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
  11. ↑ "New State Solon in Following in Great-Granddad's Footsteps". The Houston Chronicle. 12 January 1977. p. 6. Retrieved 2026-08-01.
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