H. Laurance "Larry" Fuller

H. Laurance (Larry) Fuller, age 84, of Spring Island, South Carolina and formerly of Wheaton, Illinois, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2023 at his home surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Nancy Lawrence Fuller, daughters Kathleen Elizabeth Fuller and Laura Christine (Fuller) Bevier, and son Randall Jackson Fuller.  He also leaves five grandchildren.  He was predeceased by his parents Marlin Randal Fuller and Mary Helen (Ilsley) Fuller. 

Larry was born in Moline, Illinois on November 8, 1938 and raised in Park Forest, IL where he graduated valedictorian of Rich Township High School in 1956. He was very active in Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.  He attended Cornell University and graduated in 1961 as a chemical engineer.  While at Cornell he was the pitcher on the baseball team.  He started his career working for Standard Oil of Indiana (later named Amoco) and remained there for forty years.  Starting out in research, he also spent time in the law department, after earning his Juris Doctor degree from DePaul University. His career at Amoco included petroleum refining, marketing and working in a transportation subsidiary. Fuller was elected President in 1983, then Chairman and CEO in 1991.  Under his leadership, Amoco merged with BP in 1998 to become the third largest energy producer in the world at the time.  Fuller retired as co-chair of BP Amoco PLC in 2000.  After his retirement, he remained on several boards including American Petroleum Institute, JP Morgan Chase, Abbott Laboratories, Motorola and Cabot Microelectronics until fully “letting go” and enjoying the beauty of living on Spring Island, SC and summers in Highlands, NC.

In addition to being a savvy business leader, Fuller also was deeply involved in philanthropy following his passions in classical music and nature conservancy.  He was very connected in the Chicago community as a Lifetime Trustee of the Chicago Symphony and on the board of the Art Institute as well as with his alma mater as a Trustee at Cornell University and more specifically as a Lab of Ornithology Administrative Board member since 2000.  He retired to Spring Island, South Carolina over 20 years ago and served as Chairman of the Low Country Institute (now part of the Spring Island Trust) which is charged with preserving and protecting Spring Island’s environment and cultural history.

Larry was an avid golfer, fly fisherman, birder and classical music aficionado.  He will be remembered for his desire to have deep and direct conversations, for the integrity with which he conducted all of his business and personal affairs and for the deep love he had for his children and grandchildren.

The family will hold a private memorial service for him this summer in Wheaton, Illinois.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cornell Lab of Ornithology (https://www.birds.cornell.edu/larryfuller or the Spring Island Trust in South Carolina. https://springislandtrust.org/sit19/about-us/how-to-give

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