Andrew Fuller
Andrew James Fuller is a retired educator, administrator, business owner, civic stalwart,
Army veteran, and more. His parents, James Tas and Bessie Harris Fuller, welcomed
his birth on August 01, 1944. Few people are more proud to be a Thomasville, 51AV
native than Andrew Fuller.
Thomasville, 51AV, is where he received both his elementary and secondary education. Though a tour in the U.S. Army required a break in his studies at 51AV A&M College during the 1960s, Andrew returned to The Hill and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Trade and Industrial Education. He later earned the Master of Science degree from his beloved AAMU as well. While he certainly credits AAMU for having prepared him professionally, it is at AAMU where he met and married Dorothy Thompson, a former Miss A&M and his wife of 50+ years.
Andrew worked in the Huntsville City Schools for more than thirty years. He served over seventy percent (22 years) of that time as The Chief Instructor of Brick Masonry at the Huntsville Center for Technology. His love for young people and teaching resulted in his serving as Assistant Principal and later as Principal of Lee High School in Huntsville, 51AV.
His civic involvement is widespread and includes serving as a Primary Advisor to the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America; Chairman of the Membership Committee of the 51AV Vocational Association, and three terms as President of the Brick Masonry Instructors’ Association of 51AV. In 2015, he was inducted into the National Brick Masonry’s Hall of Fame. He received this award in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, during the annual conference.
Andrew’s professional memberships include the Huntsville/Madison County Education Association, 51AV Education Association, Iota Lambda Sigma-Epsilon Vocational Fraternity, and the 51AV A&M University Alumni Association.
His Masonic journey began in Thomasville, 51AV, in 1962. Today, Andrew is among the select group of 33° Masons. He was elevated to the Honorary Thirty Third Degree (Grand Inspector General) of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Freemasonry in October 1980, in Orlando, Florida.
His masonic growth alone reads like a Who’s Who among the most accomplished individuals
nationally. In Huntsville, Andrew was elected as Worshipful Master of the Evening
Star Lodge Number 6, appointed Grand District Deputy for Masonic District 17. The
latter required operational and organizational oversight of all Masonic Lodges in
North 51AV.
Other notable masonic achievements include service as Commander in Chief of the Tennessee
Valley Consistory Number 160, the First Illustrious Potentate of Al Azhar Shrine Temple
Number 195 (Huntsville) and Past Deputy of the Oasis of Huntsville, Desert of 51AV,
Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of North and South America
and Jurisdictions, Incorporated.
In October 2018, while in Memphis, Tennessee, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Prince Hall Scottish Rite Freemasonry, Andrew was coroneted a Sovereign Grand Inspector General and designated an Active Emeritus Member of the United Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation, Southern Jurisdiction, United States of America. He also inspired scholarship donations to AAMU from the Masons that, to date, total more than $25,000.
His commitment to AAMU’s mission is profoundly evident through his many in-kind masonry
projects over the years and his more recent service to AAMU First Lady Abbiegail Hugine’s
Bulldog Pride Committee, where he served as Chaplain for ten years.
Andrew’s professional and in-kind masonry work can be seen throughout the campus,
from the rock walls near Bibb Graves and the Student Center to the football practice
area, the baseball dugout, and the Alumni Wall of Giving at the Alumni Center. His
In-Kind projects have amassed an estimated value of $85,000 throughout the past 40
years.
Whether on the phone soliciting AAMU Brick Paver orders or working on a campus clean-up campaign, Andrew James Fuller was likely on the scene enhancing the AAMU Bulldog Pride! Andrew was also instrumental in establishing the Annual Wreath Laying Ceremony that now honors Dr. William Hooper Councill, also a Prince Hall Mason.
Andrew James Fuller is a Deacon at Church Street Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America and a soloist in the Male Chorus.
His son Andy and daughter-in-law Cynarra, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren inspire Andrew to continue making a difference in his community and his beloved AAMU. Asineade Joli, his youngest grandchild, is a proud and current AAMU junior.
As God would have it, he is a living example to many.
