Fulton, 80, still building his legacy

The housing market may be sluggish, but homebuilding mogul, philanthropist and Arizona original Ira Fulton is still moving full steam ahead. At 80, the founder and chairman of Tempe-based Fulton Homes is lively, outspoken, determined and busy. He still goes to the office daily and puts in long hours. Despite being forced into bankruptcy in 2009, Fulton Homes is one of the Valley's top homebuilders. Last year, it out-sold every local competitor in terms of sales per subdivision. Fulton also is involved in his Fulton Family Foundation, which has made him well-known as a philanthropist and a champion of higher education. The foundation has contributed millions to Arizona State University, Utah's Brigham Young University and several other non-profits. Fulton recently donated $2.5 million to Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix to create the Gregory W. Fulton ALS and Neuromuscular Disorders Center. Greg Fulton, Ira's son, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2008 and had been a patient at Barrow until his death in November. He was 53.

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