One of Cullman’s most durable and successful business leaders died Sunday, leaving behind a legacy that includes dangerous frontline military service to local entrepreneurship.

Rufus Horace “R.H.” Culpepper, 96, went straight from the farm to the Pacific Theatre of World War II as a volunteer after Pearl Harbor in the First Marine Division, commonly known as the “Old Breed.” After two landings on the dangerous beaches of Peleliu and three others in the region, he returned home after three and half years to enroll in St. Bernard College and later Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University), where he earned an agriculture degree.

“Daddy was offered a job, he told us, in the agricultural field, but when he saw the salary he decided to come back to Cullman and continue selling cars. From there he started several other businesses along the way,” said his son, Neal Culpepper, who took over Culpepper Real Estate in the 1980s.

When Culpepper returned from the war and enrolled in college, he also began successfully selling used cars in 1947. He continued working until just before the end of 2018.

Along with his partner Charlie Glover he operated Culpepper Motors a Chrysler/Plymouth dealership. After selling the car dealership, Mr. Culpepper started Culpepper Real Estate, Culpepper Auto Sales and Culpepper Trailer Sales. Along with his partner Clyde White, he owned Builders and Traders, a real estate development company. His son said he also had the first Mercury dealership in the area during the 1950s, and was an owner in Higdon Funeral Home.

“He was real in tune with what was going on and a good vision of what people needed,” Neal Culpepper said. “He told us he started reading the newspaper at 5 years old and always read two or three papers a day later. If he felt there was a need for people, he would study it and start a business. He always said business should be by the Golden Rule, to treat others right personally and in business. He was a believer in selling high-volume, low-profit and be fair to your customers.”

Culpepper worked with a mule plowing fields west of Cullman when he was younger, which made passing a physical for the Marines easy. He also brought forward the work ethic of rural living forward into his business life, choosing to engage in work daily rather than retire after a number of successful ventures.

“We’ve all learned from it,” Neal Culpepper said. “He was always studying and working, looking at trends and putting plans into action. He also served as chairman of the Democratic Party and met President (Jimmy) Carter. He was always proud of that service.”

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Rachel Louise Culpepper; five children, Karen Culpepper Foltz, Joe Culpepper, Kenny (Diane) Culpepper, Neal (Ann) Culpepper and Tim (Tricia) Culpepper; and his sister Hannah Culpepper Brock. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 9 great- grandchildren.