All of these terms have been used to describe Akron’s Bain Ecarius Fulton. “Shorty” Fulton, as he was affectionately known to most Akronites, was born in 1892 in Kenton, Ohio. He came to Akron in 1916 and was employed as a mechanic with Firestone and later as a chief master mechanic at Goodyear. In 1924, he began operating what was to become the Akron Fulton International Airport on his Massillon Road farm. In 1925, he built his own plane and established the Fulton Flying Service which offered charters, flight instruction and excursions.

When Goodyear initiated its search for the proposed airdock, Shorty suggested property adjacent to his airfield. Goodyear accepted the idea. Shorty’s next goal was the development of an Akron airport. By 1928 the Akron Municipal Airport was established with Shorty as manager. In the ensuing years, the airport and the land surrounding it served multiple functions. In the 1930s it was the site of motorcycle races and model plane meets. It also featured a skating rink, toboggan slide and ski jump.

Many improvements were made to the airport in the 1930s as projects of various federal relief projects. Four dirt runways were hard surfaced and a large swamp was filled in with dirt excavated from a hill on Massillon Road. The depression that was left later became the Rubber Bowl, another work relief project. Shorty, was one of the earliest advocates of a municipal stadium.

In 1942, Shorty received a commission as a Major in the U.S. Army Air Force where he served in South America, Africa, and India. Following this tour, he returned to the United States. He was then sent to England with the 8th Air Force, attached to the 339th Fighter Group. While on a mission over Germany in April 1945, Shorty was shot down. In May of that year, he was liberated by the Russians from a German prison camp. He subsequently returned to Akron and resumed management of the airport until his retirement in 1962.

Shorty continued to serve the community in various capacities until his death in March of 1979. Shorty’s collection provides the majority of items comprising this exhibit.