To understand my motivations, it is necessary to know my background and family circumstances. Heredity, family, moral discipline, and unpredictable circumstances molded my personality. In addition, growing up in Indiana in a hardworking, middle-class family shaped my life and philosophy. Early religious training and family life had a profound influence on my values and, ultimately, my choice of a career. Growing up revolved around church attendance and religious activities.
Abraham Lincoln said, "All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my mother." To paraphrase Lincoln, "All I am or hope to be, I owe to my parents, Anton Peter and Ruth Marie." Dad, a small businessman, lived through the Great Depression, and his economic principles were imbued in his children. Many a time I heard him say, "If you can't afford to pay cash you can't afford it." This advice cannot be applied across the board, but to pay one's way, up front, is good strategy for everyday living. Just as important was my mother's influence; her attitude about self-confidence and determination became a major philosophy in the life of the Sohn children. She consistently stressed, "You can do anything anyone else can do"
To put Sohn family philosophy in its simplest form-decency counts. If I had to give advice learned from my Indiana years-do what is right. Dad related to me on one occasion when we discussed education, "I don't sit down and think about something, I just do what is right." Dad and Mom observed and emphasized strict moral principles. In the true sense of the word, Dad was a good person and had excellence of character. My brother, Bill, had Psalms 37:23 and:27 inscribed on my father's tombstone: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and the end of that man is peace."
Sohn, Anton P.: - There is some irony in my endeavor to write this historical and biographical sketch. Through high school and later in college, I concentrated on science, mathematics, and the arts to the detriment of the humanities, English and literature. A problem with premedical education is neglect of the humanities. This is predictable and understandable since students must do well in the biological sciences to get admitted to medical school. Unfortunately medicine is not the only profession with this problem: engineering, architecture, and other professional schools concentrate on highly technical subjects to the detriment of a liberal education. Now, looking back, I can say that my memorable educational experiences were the inspirations I gained from grade schoolteachers: art-Mrs. Martha Barber, woodworking-Mr. Hershel Whitaker, and high schoolteachers: mechanical drafting-Mr. Wathen Leasor and art-Mr. F.M. Howard. I was also inspired by poetry that I memorized in high school.To complete this book I used family records and other sources compiled by my uncle, William Roy Fulton, DDS. He also wrote and recorded Fulton heritage. If other predecessors were as diligent in recording their experiences, this work would be twice as long and twice as interesting. Too frequently, everyday occurrences are thought to be commonplace and therefore not recorded. Accordingly, if I shed some light on the past, I will exceed my purpose.
