MCALLEN, Texas - Ever the optimist, he told family and friends he was going to live until he was 100.
Alas, it was not to be. Longtime border healthcare lobbyist and consultant Jacob “Jake” C. Fuller has passed away following complications associated with a back operation he had last December.
He was 83 years of age.
Fuller, through his company, Starcom Consultants, had long-running contracts with Universal Health Services (South Texas Health System) and the Texas Medical Association. Over the years there were numerous other clients, many in the healthcare field. He was a familiar face at the state Capitol in Austin during legislative sessions even though he preferred to work behind the scenes.
Fuller’s notable milestones in the healthcare arena included securing majority support for tort reform in Hidalgo County in 2001. Back then Texans for Lawsuit Reform would refer to the Valley as a “judicial hellhole.” Fuller’s role was to coordinate the marketing campaign for reform. This included the odd day of action when Valley doctors would close their doors to patients. Fuller’s success in helping secure majority support for the physician community was remarkable because his main adversary was famed Edinburg-based trial layer Ramon Garcia.
Fuller was also involved in helping set up the Border Health Political Action Committee and founding and running the Border Health Caucus. The caucus comprised physicians from Brownsville to El Paso. Its annual summer conference, which Fuller organized for many years, was split between Washington, D.C., and different cities along the Texas-Mexico border.
Working with healthcare consultant Carlos Zaffirini, Jr., state Sen. Juan Hinojosa, and state Rep. Ismael ‘Kino’ Flores, Fuller also helped secure a ten-year moratorium to stop Health Maintenance Organizations coming into Cameron, Hidalgo, Webb, and Maverick counties. This reportedly saved hospitals in these counties hundreds of millions of dollars over the decade 2002-2012.
Fuller was born in New York City in December 1940. His father was an FBI agent who counted among his friends the agency’s legendary director, J. Edgar Hoover. His father’s work meant Fuller moved around a lot in his youth. As a child he lived in Puerto Rico, California, Laredo, and McAllen, among other places. He said McAllen was always his favorite.
Fuller graduated from Texas A&M University-Commerce with degrees in political science and journalism. After leaving college he worked in Dallas. As a journalist he freelanced and wrote for various trade magazines. This included a well-paid gig with a garment industry magazine aimed at women. He later went into public relations and communications.
While also in Dallas, Fuller emersed himself in city politics, helping various Latino political campaigns and LULAC. With consultancy gigs already lined up he achieved a long-cherished wish to move back to the Valley around 30 years ago.
Outside of work Fuller enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson, eating out, reading novels, watching western movies, and cheering on his beloved Dallas Cowboys.
Fuller is survived by his companion Luisa, his three children, Jay, Julie, and Brent, and Luisa's son, Enrique Cardenas. Jay says a memorial service will be held October 12 at First United Methodist Church in McAllen. It will start at 11:00 a.m.
Editor’s Note: We invite readers who knew Jake Fuller to send in their recollections. They will then be added to this tribute article. Please email: mmoreno@riograndeguardian.com.
"Jake was my friend. I met him while I was working as a lobbyist for the cable company years ago. He truly cared about the Valley, and you knew where his heart was. He had an unshaken resolve when it came to health care and for doing what is right. I will definitely miss my friend, Jake Fuller," wrote Rolando Vela, former Time Warner Cable public affairs manager, former Laguna Vista city manager, and current Cameron County Drainage District No. 5 general manager, from Harlingen, Texas.
"Jake and I took several motorcycle trips together to Big Bend. On the bike, he was like most of us, a boy again, exploring the world outside his backyard. Never stopped smiling. He loved the big Texas sky and the wide open deserts West of the Pecos. Always full of questions, too. Not afraid to ask about subjects he did not know. Constantly generous. Jake never let anyone pick up a check, no matter how hard they protested. Always kept everyone laughing. We had another trip planned this past fall but he said his back hurt him too much to ride. His friendship was unshakeable. I'll never forget the night we rode our bikes through a thunderstorm between Marfa and Alpine and I lost sight of him in the storm. An hour later I looked up, and here he came, running down the mountain in a downpour with lightning filling the sky in his wake. His nickname from that day forward was "Lightnin' Fuller." I will miss my friend greatly," wrote James C. Moore, New York Times best selling author, from Austin, Texas.
"Jake was a dear family friend in Dallas, Texas, and always south to improve the plight of the Mexican American community. Thank you for acknowledging his professional work for the downtrodden and disadvantaged communities. He will be missed," wrote Hector M. Flores, past national LULAC president, from Dallas, Texas.
“Jake was always positive and willing to contribute to the betterment of his community by getting involved. He made friends easily by acknowledging the attributes and talents of others, rather than himself. A great guy and a wonderful spirit of a human being. I will miss him,” writes David Cruz, national communications director, LULAC, from Dallas, Texas.
