News-Info-Alerts

Re: FAP Chief/POW Passes

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: July 26, 2002

"Ex-ap Chief Buried At Arlington

WASHINGTON (AP) - Keith Fuller, a World War II bombardier who rose to the presidency of The Associated Press, was laid to rest Friday with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Fuller, who ran the world's largest newsgathering organization for almost a decade, was hailed as an ``American hero'' by his friend and colleague, AP special correspondent Hugh Mulligan. Fuller died June 7.

Mulligan said Fuller's modesty prevented him from bragging about his war heroism or his many honors.

``When Keith became president of the AP, he did not decorate his office with pictures of himself shaking hands with presidents and world leaders or plaques and awards from various press and freedom organizations,'' Mulligan said at a memorial service. Instead, behind his desk hung a large painting of the sailboat they shared.

``Keith led us through dramatic and difficult times,'' current president and chief executive officer Louis D. Boccardi said. ``We share in his loss and salute his memory.''

Fuller's widow, Mattisue Scott, received the traditional American flag from the grave site honor guard. Fuller is also survived by a daughter, Barbara Jean Basler; and two sons, Geoffrey and Andrew.

Under his leadership, AP increased the number of its overseas bureaus, expanded the range of live broadcast news and took the first steps toward diversifying its sources of income. When he took the helm in 1976, AP served newspapers with just over 70 percent of the country's daily circulation. By the time he retired in 1985, the AP had reached 90 percent.

After his retirement, he served for 10 years on the board of directors of Gannett. He was succeeded at AP by Boccardi.

Before becoming chief executive, Fuller had been AP's personnel director, negotiating union contracts, and took charge of Wide World Photos, AP's commercial photo arm, and Newsfeatures.

He joined the AP in 1949 in New Orleans and worked at bureaus in Jackson, Miss.; Texas; New Mexico; Little Rock, Ark.; and Denver.

During World War II, Fuller went overseas with the Eighth Air Force as a navigator-bombardier on a B-17. On his 10th mission with the 457th Bomb Group, his plane caught fire from flak, and he bailed out over Nazi-occupied France. Fuller spent the next 14 months in a series of Stalag-lufts, POW camps for airmen, until U.S. Third Army tanks battered down the gates of Stalag VIII-A, outside Munich.

Certain that he would not survive the camp's liberation, Fuller ventured out from beneath his bunk only when he saw Gen. George S. Patton himself, in full military regalia with ivory-handled pistols, handing out C-rations to the jubilant inmates.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002"