Fuller Harding
Encyclopedia
Lloyd Fuller Harding was an attorney in Campbellsville
, Kentucky
, who served in 1942 as a Republican
member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
from District 36 (Taylor
and Adair
counties). He was also for twenty-four years the county attorney
of Taylor County.
Harding was born in Campbellsville to Abel Turner Harding (1881–1966), also an attorney, and the former Mary Moore. He graduated from Campbellsville High School in 1933 and received his undergraduate degree from Carson-Newman College
, a Baptist
liberal arts
institution in Jefferson City
, Tennessee
. He obtained his legal degree from the University of Louisville School of Law in Louisville
, Kentucky. He was a member of the Campbellsville Baptist Church. After a year, Harding left the legislature to enter the United States Navy
during World War II
, having served for three and a half years. He had succeeded fellow Republican lawmaker Herschel T. Baker (died 1963) of Columbia
, the seat of Adair County, who served from 1936–1937 and again from 1940-1941.
Robert S. Clark (born 1931), retired vice president for academic affairs at Baptist-affiliated Campbellsville University
, said that Harding's father was instrumental in soliciting funds in the early 1900s to open Russell Creek Academy, which in 1906 became Campbellsville College, the forerunner of Campbellsville University. Fuller Harding served for five years on the CU board of trustees.
In 1967, at the age of fifty-two, the longtime bachelor married the former Willye R. Crawford (August 10, 1909–September 13, 1996). On August 3, 2008, he wed the former Martha Tucker Gaddie Burress, who survived him. There were two stepdaughters, Rosalind Tender of Lexington
, Kentucky, and Elizabeth Tillotson of Tulsa
, Oklahoma
.
Campbellsville University President Michael V. Carter (born ca. 1955) said that Harding's "many accomplishments during his career illustrate the numerous ways in which he had impacted the lives of numerous people. [He had] a wonderful sense of humor. One of the patriarchs of our community has been lost with his passing." George Barry Bertram, Sr. (born 1935) of Campbellsville, a Democrat
who served as a commonwealth's attorney
until his retirement in 2006 and is also a CU trustee, recalled that Harding was always immaculately dressed and wore a signature hat. According to Bertram, Harding was a "strong Republican" who kept up with state and local politics long after he had left the legislature.
Harding died of a lengthy illness in the same house in Campbellsville where he was born ninety-four years earlier. Harding is interred at Brookside Cemetery in Campbellsville. His pallbearers included Ray H. Altman
, also a former state representative from Campbellsville. Shortly after his passing, the Kentucky House honored Harding's service. Fuller Harding Road in Campbellsville is named for him.
Campbellsville, Kentucky
Campbellsville is a city in Taylor County, Kentucky, United States. The population within city limits was 10,498 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Taylor County, and the home of Campbellsville University...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, who served in 1942 as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
Kentucky House of Representatives
The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve...
from District 36 (Taylor
Taylor County, Kentucky
Taylor County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 22,927. Its county seat is Campbellsville. The county is named for President Zachary Taylor, who served from 1849 to 1850. Taylor is a moist county...
and Adair
Adair County, Kentucky
Adair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2010, the population is 18,656. Its county seat is Columbia, Kentucky. The county is named for John Adair, then Speaker of the House in Kentucky and later Governor of Kentucky ....
counties). He was also for twenty-four years the county attorney
County attorney
A county attorney in many areas of the United States is the chief legal officer for a county or local judicial district. It is usually an elected position...
of Taylor County.
Harding was born in Campbellsville to Abel Turner Harding (1881–1966), also an attorney, and the former Mary Moore. He graduated from Campbellsville High School in 1933 and received his undergraduate degree from Carson-Newman College
Carson-Newman College
Carson–Newman College is a historically Baptist liberal arts college located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, United States. Enrollment as of 2006-2007 was about 2,050. The college's students come from 44 U.S. states and 30 other countries. Studies are offered in approximately 90 different academic...
, a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
institution in Jefferson City
Jefferson City, Tennessee
Jefferson City is a city in Jefferson County, Tennessee, United States. It is part of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,760 at the 2000 census. The city was originally named Mossy Creek, but was changed in 1901 to honor Thomas Jefferson...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. He obtained his legal degree from the University of Louisville School of Law in Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, Kentucky. He was a member of the Campbellsville Baptist Church. After a year, Harding left the legislature to enter the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, having served for three and a half years. He had succeeded fellow Republican lawmaker Herschel T. Baker (died 1963) of Columbia
Columbia, Kentucky
Columbia is a city in Adair County, Kentucky, United States, just above Russell Creek. The area was settled around 1802 by Daniel Trabue. The post office was opened on April 1, 1806 by John Field, who also ran a local store. The population was 4,014 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of...
, the seat of Adair County, who served from 1936–1937 and again from 1940-1941.
Robert S. Clark (born 1931), retired vice president for academic affairs at Baptist-affiliated Campbellsville University
Campbellsville University
Campbellsville University, also known as CU, is a private university in Campbellsville, Kentucky, the seat of Taylor County. Founded as Russell Creek Academy, a Baptist institution, the university currently enrolls more than 3,000 students and is open to students of all denominations...
, said that Harding's father was instrumental in soliciting funds in the early 1900s to open Russell Creek Academy, which in 1906 became Campbellsville College, the forerunner of Campbellsville University. Fuller Harding served for five years on the CU board of trustees.
In 1967, at the age of fifty-two, the longtime bachelor married the former Willye R. Crawford (August 10, 1909–September 13, 1996). On August 3, 2008, he wed the former Martha Tucker Gaddie Burress, who survived him. There were two stepdaughters, Rosalind Tender of Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, Kentucky, and Elizabeth Tillotson of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
Campbellsville University President Michael V. Carter (born ca. 1955) said that Harding's "many accomplishments during his career illustrate the numerous ways in which he had impacted the lives of numerous people. [He had] a wonderful sense of humor. One of the patriarchs of our community has been lost with his passing." George Barry Bertram, Sr. (born 1935) of Campbellsville, a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
who served as a commonwealth's attorney
Commonwealth's Attorney
Commonwealth's Attorney is the title given to the elected prosecutor of felony crimes in Kentucky and Virginia. Other states refer to similar prosecutors as District Attorney or State's Attorney....
until his retirement in 2006 and is also a CU trustee, recalled that Harding was always immaculately dressed and wore a signature hat. According to Bertram, Harding was a "strong Republican" who kept up with state and local politics long after he had left the legislature.
Harding died of a lengthy illness in the same house in Campbellsville where he was born ninety-four years earlier. Harding is interred at Brookside Cemetery in Campbellsville. His pallbearers included Ray H. Altman
Ray H. Altman
Ray Heistand Altman is a businessman and former Kentucky state politician. He is an insurance agency owner in Campbellsville, the seat of Taylor County in central Kentucky.-Biography:...
, also a former state representative from Campbellsville. Shortly after his passing, the Kentucky House honored Harding's service. Fuller Harding Road in Campbellsville is named for him.