December 19, 2007
By Nannette Kilbey-Smith
Wilson County News

FLORESVILLE  2007 — Former Wilson County Sheriff Asa G. Fuller Jr. has passed away at the age of 88. He was the longest-serving sheriff of the county. Originally elected in 1960, he retired Jan. 1, 1981.

 

Fuller was born Oct. 5, 1919, in Fairview in Wilson County to Eva and Asa G. Fuller Sr. He died Dec. 15, 2007, in Floresville.

 

His parents, along with his three brothers and five sisters, preceded him in death.

 

Fuller was a former U.S. Marine who served in the Pacific Theater during World War II.

 

When Fuller was elected, the office of sheriff came with a residence in the county jail, which is now a museum on the courthouse square in Floresville.

 

"That old jail's got a history," Fuller told the Wilson County News in March. He recalled many of the building's former inmates, along with tales of Floresville history, which included at least one gunfight on the courthouse lawn.

 

During his tenure as sheriff, Fuller lived in the jail residence with his wife, Hattie, and their children. Law-enforcement officers would bring prisoners in the back door and up the stairs to the jail. Fuller and his family lived on the ground floor. His wife often served as the cook for the inmates, and law-enforcement officers often found an excuse to enjoy "Miss Hattie's" cooking, too.

 

During his time as sheriff, Fuller often had to deal with "ordinary folks who occasionally overindulged in one way or another," as he put it.

 

"I wasn't the best sheriff they ever had. I made mistakes," Fuller said. "But I tried to be the best sheriff they ever had. I was working for the people."

 

Fuller was the sheriff when current Wilson County Judge Marvin Quinney returned to Wilson County as a rookie Texas Department of Public Safety trooper in 1968.

 

"I worked very closely with Sheriff Fuller and have some fond memories of that time," Quinney said. "Sheriff Fuller, his wife, Hattie, and their family are very special people."

 

Quinney recalled that Fuller worked hard for the people of Wilson County.

 

He was a colorful character who had his strengths and weaknesses," Quinney said. "And he helped so many people over the years. He meant a great deal to the people of this county. He will be missed, for sure."

 

"I've known him all my life, both in and out of politics" said current Wilson County Sheriff Joe D. Tackitt. "He served well as the sheriff and will be long remembered by a lot of people."

 

Tackitt summed up Fuller's many years of service by saying, "He certainly helped a lot of people in the county."

 

Fuller is survived by his wife of 69 years, Hattie, and sons Charlie Fuller and his wife, Jean, Asa Fuller III and his wife, Gail, and Bert Fuller and his wife, Kay. Also surviving him are 10 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

 

Visitation was held in the home of Charlie and Jean Fuller on Tuesday.

 

Funeral services will take place Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007, at 10 a.m. in the First Baptist Church of Floresville.

 

Fuller will be laid to rest in the Stockdale Cemetery in Stockdale.

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COURTESY/ Wilson County News 2007 written by Nannette Kilbey-Smith