Senior Grace Agrillo Wins Fulton Award

John Fulton, Sr. was regarded as a great man and really good guy across the Huntington community. Patient, empathetic and generous to a fault, he was loved by his family and friends. He grew up in Huntington, stayed here to raise his family and ran a wildly successful business out of a building in the village.

A member of Huntington High School’s Class of 1973, Mr. Fulton was proud of his long and faithful association with his alma mater. He sent his own children through the school and was often seen in the crowd at events across the district. When he lost his battle with multiple myeloma on August 27, 2009 at 55 years old, it was a terrible blow to his family and friends.

Mr. Fulton owned and operated the Huntington Pennysaver Group. As a successful businessman, he was in a position to help others in need and he never hesitated to do just that whenever he could, usually staying under the radar and preferring that no one even knew what he had done. He helped for all the right reasons and cared nothing about receiving credit or a pat on the back. Someone needed him and he was there.

John Fulton, Jr. and his family were hand on at the 55th annual Blue Devil senior athletic awards ceremony in the Huntington High School auditorium last week, where he discussed the life and guiding philosophy of his dad before announcing the 2023 award recipient.

This year’s $250 Fulton scholarship was presented to Grace Agrillo, an exceptional student-athlete who has helped lead the Blue Devil field hockey and lacrosse teams for many years.

Ms. Agrillo has been recruited by Binghamton University to play on its NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse team

“This year’s Fulton Award recipient is a Blue Devil all the way,” Mr. Fulton said. “Gritty, determined, take-no-prisoners – this is an athlete that plays very hard and plays to win. Our award recipient leaves it all on the field. When the game ends, this senior walks off drenched in sweat. As a teammate, our award recipient is tops and solid in the classroom, too. This senior helped lead two teams into the playoffs as each tallied double digit total victories. No drama; no nonsense our award winner was described by a coach as a special kid and player. Fun and spunky, someone who brings positive energy to the team that no one else can replicate.”

The John F. Fulton Foundation was created by the Fulton family to perpetuate the memory and values of a very special man who believed that young people and the schools they attend play an integral role in every community.

“Fast with a lethal dodge on the field, our award winner is the definition of coachable, taking and applying feedback almost immediately,” Mr. Fulton said. “Often overlooked and usually underrated, this is a person who will speak up to defend others and take risks that might scare most.”

More than anything, Mr. Fulton believed in his heart of the value and importance of a good education. He always stressed that an education remained with a person for their entire life. He admired and respected Blue Devil athletes and rarely missed a game when his three children were playing for Huntington. Where the game was held, at what time or even what the weather happened to be on any given game day mattered little. He was there.