There wasn’t a lot that the small country town in Southeast Georgia offered the Fussell’s six children. It was the 1940s and 50s and Jim Crow laws enforced racial segregation. Life for the Fussells was good. But it wasn’t easy.
Mr. Fussell was a farmer and harvested pecans, cotton, corn, cabbage, cucumbers, tobacco, and sweet potatoes. Mrs. Fussell was a teacher and was insistent that her children were going to make a difference.
Skipping college wasn’t an option by the time Eugene Fussell graduated from high school. His older brothers had set the precedent. Eugene was enrolled in medical school at Meharry Medical College in Nashville when he and some friends learned about an externship program offered by the Navy.
“We didn’t really know much about the Navy,” Eugene said. “We decided to join because it seemed like a good opportunity.”
It was 1961.
The initial ensign program led Eugene to the National Naval Medical Center (now Walter Reed) in Bethesda, Maryland, for a summer program.
“I was interested in surgery,” Eugene said. “I started in general surgery when I was transferred to the Naval Hospital in New York.”
He continued the program and eventually completed his residency at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego where he opted to specialize in orthopedic surgery.
Eugene spent 10 years on active duty as a Navy surgeon stationed at Great Lakes, New York, San Diego, and his final stop at Port Hueneme.
“My time at Port Hueneme is what brought me to my home in Oxnard,” he said.
Eugene settled in his new home with his family, which eventually came to include four daughters. He continued his work with the Navy as a reserve while focusing on his own private practice as an orthopedic surgeon based in Oxnard. He also pursued his passion for flying – an opportunity that became available to him while stationed at Port Hueneme. He joined the Point Mugu Flying Club and utilized the G.I. Bill’s aviation program to pay for flight training. In addition to his pilot’s license, Eugene also earned his commercial license and multi-engine and instrument ratings certificates. He purchased a Bonanza and then a Duke – both based at Oxnard Airport – and flew recreationally throughout the United States.
Eugene’s surgical practice remained open for 30 years until he retired in 2000. Just two years earlier, Eugene officially retired from the Navy, having worked his way up to the rank of Rear Admiral. In total his service spanned 37 years.
Eugene’s work in medicine continued beyond retirement. He spent 15 years as the Chief Medical Officer for Dignity Health’s Southwestern Region. He celebrated his final retirement in 2015 but has remained active on the governing board of St. John’s Medical Center where he spent decades performing surgery.
Throughout his career, Eugene remained active in Oxnard Airport as a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and member of the Airport Authority for the Ventura County Department of Airports – a position he held for more than 20 years before he stepped down in 2024.
Perhaps his greatest achievement has been watching his mother’s legacy of making a difference continue with his children who each hold impressive roles of their own as a school administrator, psychiatric social worker, physician, and attorney.
“I’ve been fortunate in my life,” he said. “My work as a surgeon was transformative. I was able to be part of a life-changing experience for people of all ages – athletes, young people, and older people struggling with mobility. It has been a rewarding journey.”