Mayor Gary Fuller's Biography

Professional Career

Mayor Fuller was President and CEO of Fuller Broadcasting Company, Inc. from 1985 until he sold the company in December 1998.  His six stations received numerous awards and accolades for community service and local news coverage. Some of you spent the night with Gary on October 4, 1995 when he anchored the all-night coverage of  Hurricane Opal on 97.7 Kicker FM. The Kicker was the only station within a 50-mile radius that was still on the air. In 1988 WZMG and WKKR became the first stations in Alabama to earn the National Association of Broadcasters Crystal Award for community service.

  • President and CEO of Fuller Broadcasting Company which owned and operated WKKR, WMXA, WZMG, WTLM, WCJM and WPLV
  • Managing General Partner for Fuller Properties, LTD
  • Former host of the Lee County Report, a weekly public affairs radio program
  • Graduate, Southern Union State Community College

Served on the City Council 2000 - 2004, first elected Mayor August 24, 2004, re-elected in August, 2008; re-elected unopposed in the 2012 election.  He won the 2016 city election with almost 80 percent of the vote and was re-elected to his fifth term in August, 2020 with 66 percent of the vote.  

  • Elected in August 2000 to represent Ward Four on the Opelika City Council
  • Elected as Mayor, taking office on October 4, 2004
  • Re-elected in 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020

Community Leadership

Past President

  • The United Way of Lee County
  • Opelika Rotary Club
  • The Opelika Chamber of Commerce

Past Director

  • Opelika Dixie Youth Baseball
  • Opelika Main Street
  • Opelika Utilities Board
  • Opelika Arts Association
  • Lee County Salvation Army
  • Achievement Center - Easter Seals
  • Chattahoochee Council Boy Scouts of America
  • Chattahoochee Historical Commission
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County

Board Member

  • Alabama Municipal Electric Authority - Chairman
  • Alabama League of Municipalities - Past President
  • Alabama Monument Protection
  • Auburn-Opelika Tourism Bureau
  • Lee-Russell Council of Governments
  • Opelika Planning Commission
  • Member, Advisory Committee, Auburn University Regional Airport
  • Life Member, National Rifle Association
  • Life Member, Auburn Alumni Association
  • Master Mason and member of Twin City Lodge No. 76
  • Emeritis Certified Municipal Official by the League of Municipalities
  • Member, National League of Cities Christian Public Officials Caucus
  • Leadership Alabama Class of 2006
  • Benefactor, Julius E. Talton Endowed Program Support Fund, University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences

Honors

  • Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow
  • Opelika Exchange Club Book of Golden Deeds Award
  • Opelika Chamber of Commerce, "Small Business Person of the Year"
  • Chancellor's Award, Outstanding Alumni, Southern Union State Community College

Personal

  • Wife: Laura
  • Children: Ginny and Gary, Jr.
  • Active member of First United Methodist Church of Opelika