Bain Ecarius "Shorty" Fulton was born in 1892 in Kenton, Ohio. He came to Akron in 1916 and was employed by Firestone, and then Goodyear.
In 1924, he bought a farm on Massillon Road, and, after clearing his pasture and orchard, began operating what was to become the Akron Municipal Airport.
The land on and around Shorty's airport served multiple functions. When Goodyear began searching for land to build an airdock, Shorty suggested property next to his airfield. Goodyear accepted the idea. Shorty's airport also hosted motorcycle races, model plane meets, a skating rink, toboggan slide, ski jump, and the Soap Box Derby. In 1939, the Rubber Bowl was created from a depression left after dirt was taken to fill in a swamp area at the airport.
In 1942, Shorty became a Major in the Army Air Force. While on a mission over Germany in April 1945, Shorty was shot down. He spent time in a German prison camp until he was liberated by Russians in May of that year. He returned to Akron and resumed management of the airport until his full retirement in 1962. Shorty continued to serve the communtiy in various aspects until his death in March of 1979.
The Akron Municipal Airport was later renamed the Akron Fulton International Airport in his honor.http://www.akronlibrary.org/images/Divisions/SpecCol/images/Fulton-Collection.pdf
