In memoriam: Ira A. Fulton
In memoriam
Ira A. Fulton
Our namesake, benefactor and friend
1931–2026
Ira A. Fulton, Arizona State University alumnus, businessman and renowned philanthropist, passed away Aug. 21, 2026 and will be missed by so many.
A life shaped by ASU and shared with many
Long before Arizona State University secured the university moniker, Fulton was part of the Sun Devil family, attending what was then Arizona State College in 1950 on a football scholarship. It was here that Fulton met his cherished wife, Mary Lou Henson, whom he married in 1954. Throughout his time at ASU, Fulton was known as a kind, generous and gregarious man. These values and attributes would define him long after leaving the university, as he became one ASU’s most successful and generous alumni. Fulton’s steadfast belief in investing in education and his love for students supported ASU’s transformation into a premier public research university through philanthropy and development.
Fulton was born on November 12, 1931, in Tempe, Arizona, a mere stone’s throw away from the corner of Mill Avenue and 7th Street, where a building bearing his name would be constructed more than 70 years later. Industrious from the start, Fulton developed a hard work ethic early in life, washing dishes in his mother’s cafe as a child and delivering papers for the Arizona Republic by middle school.
Fulton’s career was an extremely diverse one. He worked in and owned various businesses throughout his life, including tire and auto parts stores and gas stations. He also worked for National Cash Register — the software, consulting and technology company today known as NCR Corporation — rising to National Salesman of the Year before starting his own companies to meet the growing computer needs of several corporations. Later, after transforming Eagleson’s Big and Tall men’s clothiers in southern California from a failing, two-store operation into a 33-store retail juggernaut, Fulton tried his hand in the career field he would become known for: home building. In 1975, he founded Fulton Homes, which has grown to become one of the Phoenix metropolitan area’s largest homebuilder companies with more than 60 residential communities in the area.
Fulton, affectionately known as simply “Ira” within the engineering school bearing his name, was a regular presence at signature ASU engineering events. He was a familiar face at E2, the Fulton Schools’ first-year orientation summer camp, welcoming students into their academic journey and emphasizing the importance of a quality education. The Fulton Undergraduate Research Initiative, which enables undergraduate students to participate in real-world, faculty-mentored research, hosts two symposiums a year to showcase the students’ work. Fulton went out of his way to visit with students at these events, reveling in their accomplishments and talking to students about their research and what was important to them.
Fulton attended as many engineering convocations as he could, seeing students off to the next step in their journeys, doling out wisdom and advice to the newly minted graduates. Throughout their entire academic experience, he was known to cherish his time with students, often reminding them that he considered Fulton Schools students’ success as the biggest return on investment he could imagine.
Thank you, Dr. Fulton, for your generosity and your advocacy.
Biographical highlights
For decades, the businessman and philanthropist has made an indelible mark — accomplishing professional goals, fulfilling personal ambitions and making a positive impact around the world through a diverse range of endeavors.
For decades, the businessman and philanthropist has made an indelible mark — accomplishing professional goals, fulfilling personal ambitions and making a positive impact around the world through a diverse range of endeavors.
As a child, he washed dishes in his mother’s cafe.
Fulton’s first steady job and management position came when he was just a teenager. He worked as a newspaper carrier for The Arizona Republic, serving more than 500 customers each day, picking up papers at dawn for his morning route, as well as for the routes of the carriers he supervised.
Fulton’s early full-time jobs included work in gas stations, auto parts and tire stores.
It was during this time that he began attending Arizona State College, many years before it became Arizona State University, on a football scholarship.
After college, Fulton’s indisputable business acumen became apparent as he began his journey of making a wide range of ventures profitable, including companies focused on cash register sales, computer services, men’s clothing and homebuilding.
In 1975, he founded Fulton Homes, which became one of the Phoenix metropolitan area’s largest homebuilders and, as of 2023, has developed more than 60 residential communities.
As his business empire grew, Fulton began to make his mark as a generous philanthropist to charities, educational institutions and non-profits across the country. In addition to his contributions at ASU and Brigham Young University, Fulton made significant donations to the YMCA, the Boy Scouts of America, American Indian Services, a cancer foundation and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During this time, Fulton pledged to donate a considerable percentage of the profits from Fulton Homes to various organizations.
In 2003, Ira A. Fulton established an endowment of $50 million in support of ASU’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. On July 26, 2003, the school was officially renamed The Ira A. Fulton School (later “Schools”) of Engineering in his honor. The change also included a restructuring of departments into five separate, interdisciplinary schools.
Fulton was designated as one of Businessweek magazine’s “50 Most Generous Philanthropists.” The recognition was one of many such accolades for his substantial contributions to a variety of social and educational causes.
The same year, the Fultons donated $100 million to ASU, supporting multiple initiatives, including ASU’s educational programs. The gift resulted in the renaming of ASU’s College of Education to the Mary Lou Fulton College of Education, in honor of Ira’s wife and college sweetheart.
ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College was established, merging the Mary Lou Fulton College of Education at the Tempe campus, the College of Teacher Education and Leadership on the West campus, and the School of Educational Innovation and Teacher Preparation on the Polytechnic campus.
The Arizona Legislature at one time gave special recognition to the benefits the Fultons’ generosity has brought to the people of the state.
During an interview with the Deseret News in Utah, Fulton told a reporter his most significant accomplishment was marrying his wife. He and Mary Lou were married for more than 60 years until her passing at age 82 in October 2015.
Ira Fulton was a regular participant and speaker at various Fulton Schools events, from welcoming new students at E2, the immersive introductory experience for new engineering and technology students, to sending new graduates into the world at Fulton Schools Convocation ceremonies, where he encouraged them to pursue their highest aspirations as professionals and citizens.
Ira’s impact … cannot be overstated.”
“Ira’s impact on the Fulton Schools cannot be overstated. He was far more than a benefactor; he was an integral part of our community. His loss is felt by every member of the Fulton Schools, and our thoughts are with the Fulton family. He will be missed greatly.”
— Kyle Squires, Dean
Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
Memories
Ira Fulton was a transformational Sun Devil, changing teacher and engineering education at scale for everyone. His commitment to learning was unparalleled, and his love of Arizona unmatched. We will miss Ira Fulton.
Michael Crow, PresidentArizona State University
Ira’s beliefs drove his generosity
My parents always said to me, ‘Do anything the best you can.’ If you mow the yard, mow it the best. If you rake the yard, rake it the best. If you are going to drive a truck, drive it better than anybody else.
You realize we are here for just a second, a twinkle of time, and you learn we can do things to make the world a better place.
Source: Fulton Homes News
