Lloyd George Fuller (1920-1995)
The Apple Does Not Fall Far From This Family Tree
Lloyd Fuller arrived in this world on a spring day in 1920 at a farmhouse in Fullersburg, Illinois, just west of Chicago. The residence was owned by Lloyd’s grandfather, John, who was the son of Benjamin Fuller, for whom this historic village was named. Lloyd’s parents, Walter and Isabelle, lived with John on his farm, located near present day County Line Road and Ogden Ave. in Hinsdale. Lloyd spent his early childhood years on his family’s farm, where he absorbed positive attributes that helped him to follow in the footsteps of other leaders and philanthropists in the Fuller family.
Lloyd simplified his own name after he learned to talk. People close to him called him “Bub” as an endearment when they spoke to him. He then referred to himself as “Bob” when he replied, which stuck with him all his life. One can envision young Bob sitting on his grandfather’s lap and listening to stories about his fascinating childhood, as the Fuller family played a very prominent historic role in the development of Oak Brook and Hinsdale, Illinois.
After an exploratory trip to Illinois in 1834, John’s father Ben convinced the large Fuller clan to move with him from Broome County, New York to Brush Hill, about 15 miles west of Chicago, a growing center of trade at the southwest end of Lake Michigan. Rapid change was occurring in northern Illinois due to the terms of the 1833 Treaty of Chicago, which forced the removal of the Native Americans to land west of the Mississippi River within five years. Ben’s young family, his parents, and his eleven siblings made the arduous 700-mile journey to Chicago, some by wagon and others by steamship, where they reunited and made their way to Brush Hill.
A Native American settlement had existed at this site for centuries. Ben built a cabin for his family that was next to a Potawatomi village in an area that they called Sauganakka; Salt Creek was called Wewanippissee, which means “the pretty little river.” The Fuller children, including John, played with the children of the village. Ben taught his friendly neighbors how to shoe their ponies, and they gave John a pony to show their gratitude.
As an adult, John demonstrated an inherent compassion for the Potawatomi through his behavior at the Brush Hill Debate Club in 1857. He advocated for the Native Americans discussing the question about the comparative hardships by both the Native Americans and African Americans in this country. Many of the village’s residents were members of the Fuller family and active in the debate club. (A common saying among the early settlers was that one was either a Fuller or married to one, which is obvious in the records of its journal, acquired by Fullersburg Historic Foundation in 2020.)
Bob is likely to have heard family stories about Morell Fuller, Ben’s younger brother. Morell was a colorful individual who was about six years old when the Fuller family moved from New York to Illinois in 1835. Morell loved to skate on Salt Creek, and as a boy, he slid on the ice barefoot then when his feet got very cold would warm them by standing on wood chips. He also was a natural musician, and learned to played the drums, the fife, the violin and other instruments. He had patriotic values and volunteered in the Illinois infantry after the Civil War broke out. He served in the 105th regiment, where he served as a drummer and soldier. He fought for the Union in the battles of Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, and Atlanta; he then traveled to the sea with Sherman’s campaign. Twelve Civil War veterans, including Morell, are buried at Historic Fullersburg Cemetery and honored at that cemetery every Memorial Day on land that was originally donated by Ben Fuller.
Ben’s multi-faceted skills were remarkable and seem to have been passed down through generations. Members of the Torode family were early settlers of the area, and knew the Fuller family well. Sons Nicholas and J.J. wrote in family letters about the numerous acres of corn that Ben had planted. Their journals and ledgers document how much the Torodes depended upon both Jacob and Ben Fuller, who helped the Torodes with tasks such as drying hay and even mending shoes and boots. By 1840, other settlers in this rapidly growing area also observed the industrious side of Ben, who built an establishment called The Farmer’s Home, where people could socialize and purchase items of merchandise that they needed. (This historic structure is still in operation today as The York Tavern in Oak Brook, close to Salt Creek.) Ben had a keen business sense and invested in local inns as well as speculating in land, and by 1851, he also had platted the village. It was determined that Fullersburg was a more suitable name than Brush Hill for this well-rounded community, which had been shaped by Ben’s leadership and civic-minded nature.
The work ethic of Ben Fuller can be identified in his son John and grandson Walter, who was known as the “sweet corn king” of this area. The family farm produced several kinds of corn, and its historic success was shown by artifacts and sales receipts. Fullersburg had been the center of commerce when the farm was established. However, both Fullersburg and Hinsdale had competed for a railroad stop when the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy line planned its route west of Chicago. Hinsdale prevailed to the detriment of Fullersburg; subsequently, a slow demise occurred in Fullersburg, which led to its acquisition by Hinsdale in 1923, during John’s lifetime, which must have been difficult for the Fuller family.
A more personal loss for the Fuller family occurred in 1925, however, when John passed away. Walter and Isabel then sold the farm and moved to a house on North Oak Street in Hinsdale, which was considered “in town,” and this site remains in the Fuller family. Although these events must have resulted in substantial change for five-year-old Bob, a photograph of him (below) reflects his resilient spirit.
Bob attended school in Hinsdale, and in 1940, he married Dorothy Kranz. He and Dorothy started a family as World War 11 erupted. Bob had developed a strong sense of patriotism, and joined the U.S. Navy. He taught swimming to soldiers, a skill that he had learned at an early age in the flowing waters of Salt Creek. Upon his return to Hinsdale, he began the Fuller family business in car care at the very corner of York Road and Ogden Ave, where Ben had come during his scouting of the area, in 1834. The intersection of older Native American trails. John Templeton was seeking a partner at his established Shell gas station, and Bob fit this role perfectly. As John’s partner, Bob sold gas and started hand washing cars. His hard work ethic was impressed upon his sons (Ken, Doug, Walter, and Don), who would eventually join Bob in business.
Don Fuller was the youngest of Bob’s four sons, who tells the story of his mother’s reaction after giving birth to him when she had hoped for a baby girl. Don states, “I was told that she cried for two weeks straight. Eventually, though, she got over it. I guess I was a pretty good kid and I turned out all right.” In fact, Don had perfect Sunday School attendance for three years straight as a child, for which he received honorary pins. He notes that his mother always got her four sons ready for church and read them Bible stories at night. Although his father often had work responsibilities on Sundays as his business grew, Bob attended church regularly and became a committed Christian later in his life.
Bob always enjoyed activities with his wife and sons. He also cherished his dogs, and always had one at his side. Youngest son Don remembers the dogs as being extremely devoted to their master and smart, and states that Bob trained them very well. Don also tells the story of building a Huck-Finn type of raft to float on Salt Creek, using inner tubes for floats that had been supplied by his father. When the raft was finished, Bob helped Don and his friends launch it on the creek beneath the Graue Mill Dam. The boys used poles to push the raft upstream as far as they could, then floated back down Salt Creek with the current to their launching point.
Bob attended a wedding in Minnesota in the late 1950’s and while there, he saw a “tunnel car wash” for the first time that could wash two cars every minute. The cost was $1.50, and at the time, Bob was washing cars by hand for the same amount, but it took him 30 minutes to clean each car. His visionary senses were intrigued, and his new business model soon was accomplished. By 1959, he had expanded his service station business into downtown Hinsdale. At that time, an ad campaign for Folger’s Coffee aroused the public’s attention by claiming that a mountain was coming to Chicago. As his father prepared to open the first tunnel car wash in the area, Don asked him if he could state that “an ocean was coming to Hinsdale.” Bob then created a successful promotion using twelve-year-old Don’s logical question.
The opening of his new technologically advanced car washing system was highly successful. Customers were able to tend to the safe operation of their cars and to ensure that they had good visibility through clean windows while they purchased gas at a location close to their homes. Family members state that Bob fully believed and often expressed that his business was all about service, and every customer was treated with the utmost dignity and respect.
Bob was known for community involvement, as shown by his commitment to Toys for Tots at Christmas, which began in 1946. He also helped to establish Little League Baseball for Hinsdale’s youth with three other gentlemen. While Little League was quite competitive, Boys Baseball allowed everyone to play regardless of their level of skill. Bob was quite athletic himself, belonging to men’s bowling and softball leagues. He was a left-handed hitter but a right-handed pitcher, and he often hit home runs when playing softball. The local children benefitted from Bob’s generosity through both his time and his monetary gifts.
All four Fuller boys became involved in the family business at an early age. Don, the youngest worked with his father after school and on weekends as a teenager. Soon Don’s high school sweetheart, Kathy (who became his wife) also came on board at the age of 16 as a cashier. When asked about her first impression of Bob, Kathy states, “He was a large man, and he had a certain presence about him. He was a good, honest man.”
Although Kathy and Don wanted to get married right after high school at the age of 18, both Don and Kathy’s fathers suggested that they wait one year. Their mothers would have agreed to an earlier marriage, however. Both moms were known for their kindness and their commitment to their faith. (Kathy’s mother often explained to her children that they would have a better week if they went to church.) Their fathers’ wishes prevailed, however, and Don and Kathy were married one year later, when they were both 19. For the first time in his life, Bob wore a tuxedo at his son's wedding.
Kathy remembers how much she loved her in-laws, and states that they often spent family time together, although their days were long. The collective work ethic eventually provided an opportunity for Bob to sell his business to his four industrious sons. The business that Bob had operated since 1946 was transferred to sons Doug, Ken, Wally and Don in 1972. Bob then fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a gentleman farmer. He wasted no time in pursuing this new profession, which was intended to occupy him during retirement. In the spring of that year, he and his wife moved to southwestern Minnesota, leaving their sons in charge.
Bob’s peaceful retirement did not last long. On August 9, 1972, the car repair shop that he had just sold to his sons burned to the ground. Bob encouraged his sons to stay in that business, and he then donated the property to them as a gesture of his appreciation. He temporarily moved back to Hinsdale to help them construct a new service center. A celebration marked the center’s reopening, which allowed Bob to return to his farm.
Sadly, Dorothy passed away in 1975; however, 31 grandchildren and 42 great grandchildren resulted from her union with her husband. Bob felt a tremendous loss and loneliness after her death. Don and Kathy both noted his sense of isolation during this time. After two years, he became reacquainted with a former high school classmate who fit in with the busy Fuller clan, and they were married.
In March of 1995, Bob’s adventure on this earth came to an end. WGN Radio had held Bob in high esteem, and his passing was announced publicly due to their long business friendship. His legacy includes his devotion to family, patriotism, philanthropy, and an extraordinary work ethic. His significant contribution to this area is also historic in nature. The life of “Bub” Fuller reflects the civic-minded qualities of his ancestors, which continue with the current generation of Fullers.
The following photos of Bob, below, were lovingly provided by his family.
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