Robert Brooks Cullum was an American businessman and civic leader.

Early life

Robert B. Cullum was born in Dallas, Texas on May 10, 1912, son of Ashley Wilson and Eloise (Brooks) Cullum. He attended North Dallas High School

North Dallas High School

North Dallas High School is a public secondary school located in the Oak Lawn area of Dallas, Texas, .North Dallas enrolls students in grades 9-12 and is a part of the Dallas Independent School District...

 (where he played on the football team), transferred to Kemper Military School

Kemper Military School

Kemper Military School & College was a private military school located in Boonville, Missouri. Kemper filed for bankruptcy and closed in 2002. The school's motto was "Nunquam Non Paratus" .-Early years under Frederick T. Kemper:...

, and then to Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...

; he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from SMU.

Business years

Cullum, along with brother Charles, took over the family's business, which gained control of Toro Food Stores. They later renamed the chain of failing food stores Tom Thumb Food Stores.

Cullum served on the board of directors of the State Fair of Texas

State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas is an annual state fair held in Dallas, Texas . The fair season usually begins the last Friday in September and ends 24 days later. The fair is held at the historic Fair Park where it has been held since 1886. The 2012 State Fair of Texas will run from September 28th...

, as president of the same from 1967 to 1969, served as president of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce from 1964 to 1965, and also served on the board of directors for Dallas Power and Light, the Dr Pepper Company

Dr Pepper/Seven Up

Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. was a Plano, Texas-based soft-drink manufacturing company created by the merger of Dr Pepper, Inc. and The Seven Up Company on May 19, 1986. The merger was a result of the independent bailouts of both companies and the subsequent FTC blockage of a Dr Pepper merger with...

, and the Republic National Bank of Dallas.

Cullum was a trustee on the board of the Southwestern Medical Foundation (which evolved to form the UT Southwestern Medical Center) and of the Callier Center for Communication Disorders. He was also one of the three negotiators that formed the Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Airport (now the DFW International Airport).

Death and awards

In 1962, Cullum received the Linz Award for civic service to the city of Dallas, the Brotherhood Citation of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and, in 1964, he was named the Dallas Press Club's Headliner of the Year.

Cullum died on December 11, 1981 in Dallas. He is buried at the Hillcrest Mausoleum.

Part of Texas State Highway 352

Texas State Highway 352

State Highway 352 or SH 352 is a Texas state highway running from Dallas east through Mesquite before finally ending in Sunnyvale. The route mainly runs along Scyene Rd. The highway was designated in 1943 from U.S. Highway 80 in Mesquite west to U.S...

, which runs in front of Fair Park

Fair Park

Dallas Fair Park is a recreational and educational complex located in Dallas, Texas . The complex is registered as a Dallas Landmark, National Historic Landmark and is home to nine museums, six performance facilities, a lagoon, and the largest Ferris wheel in North America...

 (annual site of the State Fair of Texas

State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas is an annual state fair held in Dallas, Texas . The fair season usually begins the last Friday in September and ends 24 days later. The fair is held at the historic Fair Park where it has been held since 1886. The 2012 State Fair of Texas will run from September 28th...

), is named in his honor.