THE FLATS – Georgia Tech athletics mourns the loss of alumnus, football letterwinner and former assistant and head coach Bill Fulcher, who died on Friday. He was 88.
An Augusta, Ga. native, Fulcher enrolled at Georgia Tech in 1953 after playing football, baseball and running track at Academy of Richmond County, followed by one season of football at Darlington Prep School in Rome, Ga. He walked on to Tech’s football team but went on to earn a scholarship from head coach Bobby Dodd. A linebacker, Fulcher played in two Sugar Bowls and a Cotton Bowl and helped lead Tech to a 26-6-2 record in his three seasons with the Yellow Jackets (1953-55).
After graduating from the Institute in 1956, Fulcher went on to play three seasons for the National Football League’s Washington Redskins (1956-58) before enrolling in the U.S. Army, then beginning his coaching career at the high school level. He served three stints as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech (1963, 1966-67 and 1969) before being named head coach at the University of Tampa in 1971. A year later, he returned to Georgia Tech as head coach. He compiled a 12-10-1 record in two seasons at the helm at his alma mater (1972-73), before retiring from coaching after the 1973 season at the age of 39.
Following his retirement from coaching, Fulcher enjoyed a successful career in commercial real estate in Atlanta and Augusta. He also graduated from Augusta Law School in 1980. He was inducted to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
Fulcher is survived by his wife, Bequi, five children and 11 grandchildren. The family will receive friends on Monday from 5-7 p.m. at Thomas Poteet & Son in Augusta. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday at the Storey Chapel of First Baptist Church of Augusta.
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
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