Edmund D. “Ted” Fuller III

Inducted: 2024
Born: 06/14/1935
Died: 06/24/2021

Ted Fuller was born in Pawtucket on June 4, 1935.  He began his career working for his father who ran a small Rhode Island chain, “Donut Kettle.” He parlayed this after-school job into a successful career in the food service industry. After graduating from St. Raphael Academy in 1952 and a stint at Bryant College, he joined the Army in 1957, where he spent his time in a finance billet.

Returning in 1959, Ted joined his father in a new venture Interstate Management Corporation, which tested new ideas in food preparation and dispensing. Within two years the company operated snack bar and restaurant units in 21 department stores in nine states, employing 310 persons. They were also involved in food vending operations.

In August, 1961, the Providence Journal reported on their success. “The Fullers were convinced they could dispense quality foods in quantity at low cost. They introduced new food handling concepts to achieve speed and efficiency.”

Wanting to branch off on his own, Ted opened Ted’s Big Boy Restaurants in 1964. He operated them for eight years until he purchased Gregg’s Restaurant out of receivership in 1972. Gregg’s was a small Warwick eatery, an affordable family-style restaurant whose menu featured soups, salads and sandwiches. Under Ted’s leadership, Gregg’s added units in 1979 (East Providence), 1985 (Providence) and 1993 (North Kingstown). These restaurants featured pubs in addition to the traditional dining rooms. 

With such growth Ted knew he needed to computerize. He and his brother Bill scouted restaurant trade shows but found nothing that met their needs. Frustrated by this shortfall in restaurant technology, they designed their own computer system. POSitouch launched in 1985, the first point-of-sale system featuring a touchscreen. Today, POSitouch can be found in more than 50,000 locations worldwide.

Ted joined with the late William DeAngelis of Twin Oaks Restaurant and Ned Grace, the founder of Capital Grille and Hemenway’s, to re-establish the RI Hospitality Association in 1988. Ted’s influence helped to define and grow one of the state’s largest industries. RIHA now uses Ted’s “Culture of Community” as one of its guiding principles. In November of 1988, Ted also took a major step in his personal life, marrying Kristine Kelleher in a North Palm Beach, Florida ceremony.

In 1995, he and Kris created the Gregg’s Giving Tree Fund, which donates Christmas gifts to Rhode Islanders in need. The Fullers also began supporting Hasbro Children’s Hospital and The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation by donating a portion of the sales price of a special cake.

In 2003, Johnson & Wales University awarded Ted an honorary doctorate in recognition of his influence in the hospitality industry. Today, its Edmund D. Fuller III award annually recognizes a student who has demonstrated exceptional skill and achieved the highest academic average in baking and pastry arts.

Ted’s lifelong passion was aviation. He loved to fly and earned his private pilot’s license before he was 20. As his career progressed, so did the size and performance of the airplanes he owned. 

Ted died January 24, 2021, in North Palm Beach, Florida and was survived by his wife Kristine and his sister, Jennifer Gaudreau.

Edmund “Ted” Fuller was inducted into The Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 2024.

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