Herbert Hall Fullerton

Herbert Hall Fullerton was born on March 22, 1940, in Collbran, Colorado, to Vera Hall Fullerton and Edgar Allan Fullerton. He was raised in the Grand Mesa area until he was 14, when the family moved to Nampa, Idaho. Herb grew up working on the family farm, learning skills that helped him throughout his life. He graduated from Nampa High School in 1957, lettering in football, and actively participating in the FFA program. He accepted a football scholarship to Utah State University (USU), playing for the freshman team before deciding to focus on academics. He graduated with an economics degree in 1960, returning to Nampa to help grow the family farm. Herb realized his passion was in academics and returned to USU, obtaining his master’s degree (MS) and finishing his studies with a PhD in economics from Iowa State University in 1966.

Herb joined the faculty of USU, where he spent his entire 36-year career researching and teaching economics. His research focused on water resources and took him to such places as Thailand, Kenya, Bangladesh, and Kazakhstan. He took a month-long journey through China with his colleagues giving lectures on water issues. His tenure at USU included two years in Washington DC as a Special Assistant to the Associate Secretary of Land and Water Resources in the Department of Interior, working for one of his many lifelong friends. Herb always spoke fondly of his sabbatical in Montreal, Canada, supporting his wife, Rosemary, who was teaching at McGill University. Herb genuinely enjoyed interacting with his students, leaving an indelible impact on his PhD students from across the globe. After he and Rosemary retired, they moved to the Houston area to be closer to family.

Herb was intensely curious, read widely, and loved learning and sharing his immense knowledge. He had a gentle spirit, a depth of wisdom, and impeccable integrity. He dearly loved his family, cherishing summer days on the boat, life at his Logan cabin, hiking, hosting holiday gatherings, and traveling with Rosemary over their meaningful and heartwarming 31 years of marriage. He was a lifelong athlete: an avid runner, completing the 1982 Marine Corps Marathon and later numerous half marathons with Rosemary alongside. He was always ready for a great game of handball and racquetball. After struggling with running pain at age 80, he switched to the bicycle and fastidiously completed his 20-mile ride every day until his cancer diagnosis last summer.

Herb was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar and Vera Fullerton, his sister, Zoetta Middleton, and his stepson, Dustin Daniels. He is survived by his beloved soulmate, Rosemary, and their blended family of six children: Brent Fullerton, Baird Fullerton (Ann), Todd Fullerton, Shane Daniels (Young), Danette Daniels (Marcelo), and Nathan Daniels (Tiffany). He was a loving grandpa and great-grandpa for his eight grandchildren, six step-grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by several caring nephews and nieces and his two precious dogs, Corky and Lexie. He was blessed with numerous cherished colleagues and friends, some who preceded him in death.

We want to thank the medical team at Memorial Hermann who served him well during his illness. We are especially grateful to Dr. Tung Shu and his staff for their compassionate care through Herb’s challenging year-long cancer journey. We also want to thank the hospice personnel who helped make his last days comfortable and peaceful.

Funeral services and burial will be in Logan, Utah, on August 16, with details to follow. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make donations to your favorite humanitarian charity in Herb’s name.