Photos: World War ll veteran Morton Tuller
- Updated
Tucson business owner and WWll veteran Morton Tullerβs years in uniform were just part of his eclectic life. A born storyteller, Tuller always had a joke or magic trick, loved marching in parades (he played bass drum in a bagpipe band) and carried a pocketful of silver dollars heβd hand out to anyone and everyone. At family gatherings, he was everyoneβs favorite Uncle Morty.
Howard Tuller, left, and his father Mort have been in their family owned business for three generations since 1955 as they stand in their store on East 22nd Street on Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Tucson, Ariz. Howard runs the day-to-day operations at two stores while Mort, 91, comes in to help out with trophy assembly. Photo by A.E. Araiza/Arizona Daily Star
- A.E. Araiza/ Arizona Daily Star
This undated photo provided by the family shows Morton Tuller, in his 60's in Arizona as the national president of the Awards and Recognition Association. Family members said he was jokingly wearing the oversized hat because others thought this was the way people in Arizona dressed, and adding humor to his presidency. (AP Photo)
- HONS
This undated photo provided by the family shows Howard Tuller, foreground, and his father, Morton Tuller, wearing his favorite hat. When Morton Tuller died just weeks shy of his 92nd birthday, he was buried with a special tribute to his past: the hat embroidered with "WWII. 10 Battle Stars." (AP Photo)
- HONS
This World War II-era photo provided by the family shows Morton Tuller next to a jeep. As a young soldier in the Army Signal Corps, he served as a cryptologist with a high-security clearance post deciphering American codes sent ship-to-ship in the European and Pacific theaters. For decades, he told no one, not even his wife, about his work on Navy ships that landed in Sicily, southern France, north Africa, Okinawa and Iwo Jima. (AP Photo)
- HONS
This World War II-era photo provided by the family shows Morton Tuller, left, on a ship with a friend. For decades, the cryptologist told no one, not even his wife, about his work on Navy ships that landed in Sicily, southern France, north Africa, Okinawa and Iwo Jima. (AP Photo)
- HONS
This circa 1947 photo provided by the family shows Morton Tuller, right with glasses, giving a tour of the WBKB television studio in Chicago. After the war, Tuller married and was an early TV pioneer at WBKB, working as an on-air host and behind-the-scenes producer. He tried his hand in Hollywood, hoping to sell a TV detective series, but eventually settled in Tucson and started his trophy business. (AP Photo)
- HONS
Mort Tuller and his Tut coverplate. Arizona Daily Star file photo taken 9/11/78 by Art Grasberger.
- ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Morton K. Tuller, left, started Tuller Trophy in 1955. His son, Howard L. Tuller carries on with the business. Here, they're photographed with some of their wares, Thursday, May 31, 2002. Photo by Chris Richards
- CHRIS RICHARDS
Howard Tuller, left, and his father Mort have been in their family owned business for three generations since 1955 as they stand in their store on East 22nd Street on Saturday, June 9, 2012, in Tucson, Ariz. Howard runs the day-to-day operations at two stores while Mort, 91, comes in to help out with trophy assembly. Photo by A.E. Araiza/Arizona Daily Star
- A.E. Araiza/ Arizona Daily Star
Morton Tuller, a member of the U.S. Marine Corp League color guard keeps a thuderous beat for a company of Marines in the Tucson Veteran's Day Parade in downtown Tucson on S. Sixth Ave.. Photo by Joshua Trujillo. Photo taken on 11/11/2000.
- Joshua Trujillo
This undated photo provided by the family shows Morton Tuller, in his 60's in Arizona as the national president of the Awards and Recognition Association. Family members said he was jokingly wearing the oversized hat because others thought this was the way people in Arizona dressed, and adding humor to his presidency. (AP Photo)
- HONS
This 1998 photo provided by the family shows Howard Tuller, left, and his father Morton Tuller, wearing his bagpipe band regalia in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo)
- HONS
This undated photo provided by the family shows Howard Tuller, foreground, and his father, Morton Tuller, wearing his favorite hat. When Morton Tuller died just weeks shy of his 92nd birthday, he was buried with a special tribute to his past: the hat embroidered with "WWII. 10 Battle Stars." (AP Photo)
- HONS
This World War II-era photo provided by the family shows Morton Tuller next to a jeep. As a young soldier in the Army Signal Corps, he served as a cryptologist with a high-security clearance post deciphering American codes sent ship-to-ship in the European and Pacific theaters. For decades, he told no one, not even his wife, about his work on Navy ships that landed in Sicily, southern France, north Africa, Okinawa and Iwo Jima. (AP Photo)
- HONS
This World War II-era photo provided by the family shows Morton Tuller, left, on a ship with a friend. For decades, the cryptologist told no one, not even his wife, about his work on Navy ships that landed in Sicily, southern France, north Africa, Okinawa and Iwo Jima. (AP Photo)
- HONS
This 1954 photo provided by the family shows Morton Tuller and his wife, Sylvia, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo)
- HONS
This circa 1947 photo provided by the family shows Morton Tuller, right with glasses, giving a tour of the WBKB television studio in Chicago. After the war, Tuller married and was an early TV pioneer at WBKB, working as an on-air host and behind-the-scenes producer. He tried his hand in Hollywood, hoping to sell a TV detective series, but eventually settled in Tucson and started his trophy business. (AP Photo)
- HONS
As featured on
Some were teens just out of high school.Β Others, veteran service members on a second, third or fourth tour.Β The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have claimed 54 service members with ties to Southern Arizona.
Morton Tuller devoted his life to celebrating others, creating trophies and awards honoring …
Memorial Day events from around the country.
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