Roy Pulliam, 68, Dies After Stroke
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Title Roy Pulliam, 68, Dies After Stroke Date 30 Mar 1948 Media newspaper Page 1 & 17 Periodical Fresno Bee Place Fresno, Fresno, CA USA Source Type Newspaper URL https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-roy-pulliam-obit-part-2/102803369/ Source ID S1204 Text Roy Pulliam, 68, Retired Banker Dies After Stroke
Roy Pulliam, 68, a retired vice president of the Fresno main branch of the Bank of America died last night less than an hour after he suffered a stroke and plunged over the stairway railing 16 feet to the floor in the Motel Fresno on the Golden State Highway north of Roeding Park.
He had Just bid farewell to friends in the cocktail lounge when he suddenly collapsed at the head of the stairs and fell headlong over the railing. The accident occurred at 8:30 o'clock and Pulliam succumbed 45 minutes later in the Fresno Community Hospital.
Chief Deputy Coroner L. R. Webb said Pulliam had been in ill health for several months and was in Fresno for few days to wind up business affairs before returning to his recently purchased home in San Carlos.
Pulliam suffered head Injuries and a fracture of the right leg in the fall.
The coroner's office announced an autopsy was to be conducted this afternoon to determine whether the stroke or the injuries suffered in the fall caused the former banker's death.
"There is no doubt he suffered a stroke but until we perform an autopsy we cannot he certain whether the stroke or the injuries caused his death" said Webb.
Pulliam had been under the care of a physician, but Webb pointed out that despite his poor health he might have survived a stroke.
Andy Dostinich, the operator of a used car lot at 1740 Broadway, who lives in the motel told Investigators Pulliam was conversing with friends when he first saw him.
Sought To Catch Eye
"He started toward the head of the stairs and I looked in his direction, trying to catch his eye as I wanted to speak to him," Dostinich said.
"When he reached the railing his hand started to tremble as if he was having some kind of an attack and wanted to hold to the rail. Just then the bartender said something to me and I turned around. I looked back just in time to see foot as he dropped from the other side of the railing and I realized he had fallen.
"He plunged over the railing and hit the floor of the lobby below"
Talked With Manager
Walter Tomerlin the manager of the motel laid he had been talking to Pulliam with whom he long had been acquainted, in the bar a few minutes before the accident. He declared Pulliam seemed in the best of spirits and apparently was not ill.
The manager was standing near the office entrance when he heard thud and ran over to discover Pulliam had plunged over the railing.
Pulliam checked into the motel yesterday morning about 11 o'clock and spent the day taking care of business affairs. He made the trip here alone.
Tomerlin said when Mrs Belle Pulliam, the widow, was reached by telephone last night immediately after the accident her first words were "has Roy had stroke?"
Business associates, including Ralph Rehorn, the manager of the main branch of the bank, said they saw Pulliam yesterday afternoon and at that time he appeared to be in good health.
Mrs Pulliam is enroute to Fresno to make funeral arrangements. Except for the widow and a nephew in Springfield Ill, there are no surviving relatives.
The funeral rites will be under the direction of the Yost A Webb Mortuary.
Pulliam was born in Illinois and had lived In Fresno for half a century. He began his banking career in 1901 as an assistant teller in the old First National Bank of Fresno.
Was Bank Cashier
He was cashier of the institution when it became a part of the Bank of America in 1921. Following his appointment as a vice president of the bank, he was, in 1930, placed in charge of all of the bank's branches between Manteca and Bakersfield.
With the creation in 1931 of the San Joaquin Valley district of the Bank of America, comprising branches between Stockton and Bakersfield, Pulliam was named manager of the area and transferred to the bank's headquarters in San Francisco.
He became manager and vice president of the Modesto branch in 1933 and five years later returned to Fresno as vice president of the local main branch. Although he retired in 1944, Pulliam remained a member of the local advisory board of the bank.
Pulliam was a member of the Fresno Rotary Club, the University-Sequoia-Sunnyside Club, the Las Palmas Masonic Lodge, the Shrine and the Elks Lodge. He served as foreman of the Fresno County Grand Jury five years ago when the inquisitorial body was chosen by Superior Judge Dan Conway.Linked to (1) PULLIAM, Roy
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