Adna “Ad” Fulton Named Chamber’s First Legacy Award Winner
Adna “Ad” Fulton (blue shirt) surrounded by sons Brad, Steve, and Mark.
If Hagerstown has a rags-to-riches story it would be that of Adna “Ad” Fulton. Born in 1937, his father died when he was 2, leaving his mother to raise him by raising chickens and truck farming to try to piece together a living.
From that beginning, Fulton, now 88, grew into one of Hagerstown’s most successful businessmen, and as a result he has been named the Chamber of Washington County’s first Legacy Award winner.
Looking back, Fulton considered himself just an average student but was a youngster ambitious to work and earn money. He bought his first truck at 15 and began working for Don Ardinger in 1956. Ardinger founded AC&T, which began as a home heating fuel delivery company, with Phil Castle and Dutch Tedrick, and Fulton joined them later as a business partner. Eventually, Fulton and Ardinger were the only two owners, until 1986 when Fulton bought Ardinger’s share of the business.
“I wanted to grow. I was pretty ambitious, I guess,” Fulton said in an interview with the Hagerstown Herald-Mail in 2017. “I never really had much. You kind of work night and day and do what you think is best.”
From that point on, Fulton ran the company until he turned responsibility over to his three sons, Brad, Steve and Mark Fulton. They continue to keep the business diversified to ensure that the company remains viable. They are generous to their employees, offering good benefits, as well as educational scholarships for their families.
AC&T offers many different services in the Tri-State area, including heating fuel, propane, convenience stores, portable toilets, mobile storage, petroleum products, liquid waste handling, transport services, plus heating and cooling.
Fulton has shared his success with the community over the years, supporting organizations such as Saint James School, United Way of Washington County, volunteer fire departments, The Maryland Theatre, Mason-Dixon Council of the Boy Scouts of America, American Cancer Society, Maryland Symphony Orchestra, Washington County Agricultural Education Center, Benevola United Methodist Church, Hagerstown Community College, and Breast Cancer Awareness – Cumberland Valley.
His wife, Barbara Fulton, loved to cook and fine-tuned the beloved home-cooked menu offered at the chain of AC&T convenience stores. Barbara passed away from breast cancer in 2006. AC&T now matches funds raised for Breast Cancer Awareness in her honor.
Fulton has left a resounding positive impact on Washington County throughout his life, and his charitable nature has provided many individuals with opportunities, education, financial support, and assistance during difficult times.
The Chamber of Washington County feels that a Legacy Award is an important addition to their Business Awards program. The award will be given when warranted to recognize individuals who have left a significant impact on Washington County through their career achievements and community service. Legacy Award recipients encompass leadership and an exceptional work ethic and have consistently performed above and beyond normal expectations throughout their career.