Garner H. Tullis

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Garner Hugh Tullis, Sr. (April 4, 1893 -- February 18, 1966), was a New Orleans businessman and civic leader who formed his own brokerage firm, Tullis, Craig & Bright, and became a partner of E.F. Hutton and Company. He was also a nationally known yachtsman who won the St. Petersburg, Florida, to Havana, Cuba, races in 1930, 1932, and 1948.

Tullis was born in tiny St. Joseph, the seat of Tensas Parish, located along the Mississippi River in northeastern Louisiana, to the attorney and landowner Hugh Tullis and the former Nellie Watson. He arrived in New Orleans at the age of sixteen and worked his way from messenger in a cotton firm to become the principal cotton trader in the whole city. Employed by John F. Clark & Co, he later formed his own brokerage company and then became the Hutton partner in New Orleans. He was a founder of the Louisiana and Southern Life Insurance Company (later Charter Security Life Insurance). He chaired the board of the company until his death.

During World War II, Tullis served as a lieutenant commander in the United States Coast Guard and as commander of the Port of Orleans Security Volunteer Force.

Tullis married the former Mary Lee Brown on October 6, 1916. Their children were Malcolm McCullough Tullis (born 1917), Mary Lee Tullis (born 1919), Garner Hugh Tullis, Jr. (1923-1930), and Eli Watson Tullis (born 1928).

In 1939, Tullis purchased an historic home in Biloxi, Mississippi, for use as a summer home. It subsequently became known as the Tullis-Toledano Manor. After its sale to the city of Biloxi in 1975, it became a popular museum and local attraction. Many young couples were married on the beautiful grounds of the home. Sadly, it was completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005.

Tullis "ruled" New Orleans as "King Rex" in the 1935 Mardi Gras celebration. His interest in yachts led to his becoming the commodore of the Southern Yacht Club. He died while cruising off the Gulf of Mexico near Apalachicola, Florida, aboard his yacht Windjammer.