C.T. "Tom" Fuller

C. T. “Tom” Fuller was known for many things in his life, but above all, he was known as a great horseman.

Fuller grew up on Willow Brook, the family farm near Catasauqua, Pennsylvania.  His father, J. W. Fuller, began the farm in 1901, and kept Belgians and Percherons to work the farm. The horses were sold after his death in 1929, and the farm was not home to any more horses until the 1950s.

After World War II, Fuller became chairman of the board of Allentown Portland Cement Company.  He was the original publisher of Practical Horseman and publisher of Performance Horseman, and many of his photos appeared on the covers of The Quarter Horse Journal.  His eye-catching ads also appeared on the back of the magazine for more than 20 years.  Fuller also took great pride in the production of the film “The Horse America Made,” traveling more than 100,000 miles to record and share the beauty and diversity of the Quarter Horse.

Fuller’s success in the horse business was boosted mostly by one horse, a 1953 sorrel stallion named Joe Cody by Bill Cody out of Taboo by King P-234.  Joe Cody sired 324 Quarter Horses. From that, 13 AQHA Champions emerged, as well as other stars, particularly in the reining industry.  Famous progeny included world champion reiner High Proof, World Champion and National Reining Horse Association Champion Topsail Cody, World Champion Benito Paprika and a host of others.

In all, Fuller was connected to some 185 performers, earners of more than 3,500 AQHA points.  He developed 10 AQHA Champions and 15 all-around winners.  As a breeder, his record was even more impressive, with 736 foals, champions in the show arena and performers on the racetrack.

Fuller was inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame in 2001 and died in 2011.

Biography updated as of December 2011.