Articles from prior issues of The Advocate

September/October, 1997

Remembering Dan
by Debi Gardiner and Terri Spurgeon, Louisianna DDSy Maureen Halsey-Wright, Kentucky DDS

AS A BRAND NEW NADE MEMBER, I met Dan in the late 1980s at the NADE Conference in Jackson, Mississippi. I remember seeing this tall guy at the catfish dinner, out on the dance floor dancing away. All of a sudden Dan went down - and then he was up almost as soon as he went down! I thought he was doing the new “breakdance” until the next morning when I saw him limping. I asked him why he was limping and he said “it is an old football injury that kicks up now and then”. I was to find out later that he had slipped on the floor where someone had spilled a drink! As always, Dan recovered making it look like it was something he meant to do. In the spring of 1989, four new NADE members arrived in Austin to attend their first NADE Regional Training Conference. With refreshments in hand, they wandered to the poolside hospitality suite. They put on their best faces and began to mingle, introducing themselves to new friends and chatting with the old ones. Like an old redwood, a man approached and introduced himself. “I’m Dan Fulton, Administrative Law Judge”, he said with a tone of pure authority. He handed them business cards as they began to introduce themselves. One asked, “Which office do you work in?”. “Shreveport”, he stated. As they began to read the card, then the address, “You’re Dan Fulton from the Shreveport DDS!” one exclaimed. He looked me straight in the eyes and said “Yes, that’s right. But for a brief moment in your life, you were impressed (with me) weren’t you!” As we reflect, we fondly remember the impressions Dan made on numerous people. Always a jokester, and sometimes (usually) in the most inappropriate manner. Whenever we think of Dan we will recall a dear friend who “emcee’d” our “Academy” awards ceremony at the first SWADE conference to be held in Baton Rouge. I can still see that tall, big built guy in a pink jacket with black velvet cuffs that came to his elbows and buttons in the front that would not meet to button. Over the next three years, an indescribable friendship developed between Dan, Nina, Debi and Terri as we worked closely with him on his campaign for NADE President, the Baton Rouge regional conference and the New Orleans National Conference. During that time, we came to know the intelligent, caring man who touched many lives. He was always there for us and listened to us - even when we were telling him that he was wrong. He asked us for advice and opinions - just so he could tell us we were wrong and he was, as usual, right. Most of the staff at the Baton Rouge DDS never met Dan but they felt they knew him as well by just answering the phone when he would call for “Ms. Gardinia”, “Ms. Rabelass”, or “Terri Fish” and taking the usual crazy and sometimes not-to-be repeated messages he left. We hope that you had an opportunity to talk with Dan and if you did we hope that he took the opportunity to tell you about the impression you made on his life. He loved NADE and what the organization represents. I am reminded of the conversation we had late last year when I received a phone call and the other end of the line blurted out “What do you mean increasing the dues! I refuse to rejoin if I have to pay $50.00! Whose idea was this and why didn’t I have a say so?” Of course, he did rejoin but he always took the opportunity to tell me he wasn’t happy about it. NADE always found its way into our conversations and he often spoke of many of you and the respect he had for you, your opinions and your efforts. Please know that on many days your phone calls and cards are what kept him going. Dan’s last three years were filled with tragedy and grief. His fight for his own life and his strength for survival came from his friends and his faith. He was truly moved and impressed with the outpouring of best wishes he received. During his last few days, we had the opportunity to talk and spend some time with Dan. I took the opportunity to tell him that although I was not "impressed" with him seven years ago in Austin, he had made a big impression on my life. I will miss him telling me what I should do and how I should do it when it comes to NADE business. We will miss his support, his advice and, most of all, his friendship. He always stood strong for what he believed in and he never lost respect for others who believe differently. He was a true friend which is not a common creature in today's world. On the last day that we spent time with him, he was still joking and "blowing kisses" to his sitter, Jermaine. We feel blessed to have known and loved him. We miss you buddy!