Lewis Fulks

Dr. Lewis Fulks, often called "the father of theatre at Abilene Christian University," began his work at ACU in 1949 – the year after he graduated from ACU. He directed and/or designed 187 productions in 44 years, designed more than 400 sets constructed by students, drew 500,000 people to his shows and created the first permanent college dinner theatre program in the southwest.

He won the West Texas Chamber of Commerce Cultural Achievement Award for Outstanding Contribution and received an honorary doctorate from ACU in 1990, when he formally retired as director of ACU's theatre program.

Fulks directed ACU's first Homecoming musical, "The Wizard of Oz," and he opened the Abilene Civic Center with the musical "The Sound of Music" in 1970. More than 7,700 patrons saw the three Civic Center performances, which were sold out four weeks before opening night. He earned national acclaim for directing, designing and producing the Homecoming musicals for 30 years.

Fulks started the children’s theatre at ACU, and he produced pageants for the university's 50th and 75th anniversaries. The shows he produced were so successful that ticket sales paid for the productions and some of the salaries of theatre faculty and staff.

On December 15, 1949, Lewis married Jerelene "Jerry" Warren in Abilene. She was Fulks' greatest fan and quiet partner throughout his career. He died in September of 2003.