Tullibee Veteran Bruce Bullough, 54,
departed on Eternal Patrol on April 28, 2003.
He served aboard the USS Tullibee as an Executive Officer
from July 1984 to October 1986.
Captain Bruce L. Bullough, USN (Ret.), died Monday, April 28, 2003 at home following a courageous three-year battle with cancer. He was born in Salt Lake City, UT on Dec. 27, 1948, the son of Vaughn and Jewel Stapp Bullough of Florence, Alabama. He graduated from Coffee High School in Florence, in 1967 and attended Auburn University on an NROTC scholarship. In 1968 he received a presidential appointment to the United States Naval Academy, graduating as a member of the class of 1972 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Bruce’s distinguished twenty-nine year naval career was dedicated to the submarine force. Following six months duty on board diesel submarines at Key West, Florida, he attended Nuclear Power Training at Vallejo, California, and Idaho Falls, Idaho, then Submarine School at New London, CT. Bruce served two years on board USS Sunfish (SSN 649), attended Submarine Officer Advanced Course and served two years on board USS George C Marshall (SSBN 654)(Blue). He served as an instructor at the S1W Prototype in Idaho Falls, Idaho, from December 1978 until April 1981 then served as Engineering Officer on board USS Daniel Webster (SSBN 626) (Blue) until May 1984. Bruce served as Executive Officer on board USS Tullibee (SSN 597) from July 1984 until October 1986 and Executive Officer on board USS Lafayette (SSBN 616) (Gold) from December 1986 until March 1988. He commanded USS Jack (SSN 605) from November 1988 until JACK was decommissioned on July 11, 1990. Bruce assumed command of USS ULYSSES S. GRANT (SSBN 631) (BLUE) in August 1990, completing two patrols in command. Bruce was assigned to the Staff of Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic, Groton, CT and also served as Director of Navy Undersea Warfare for Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force, Norfolk, VA, before retiring from the Navy. Following his retirement in 2001, he worked for Sonalysts, Inc., in Waterford, CT. A resident of Gales Ferry for 22 years, Bruce enjoyed his associations in his community. He was an active member of the Groton Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He enjoyed hosting cadets from the United States Coast Guard Academy and was a member of the Ledyard Rotary. Besides his parents, Bruce is survived by his wife of 29 years, Cecilia Novotny Bullough whom he married on April 22, 1974 in Salt Lake City, Utah, his son Ben of Arlington, VA, his daughter Liz of Provo, UT and his son Jon of Provo, UT. , his brother Stephen of Sandy, UT, his brother Roger of Florence, AL and his sister Barbara Riherd of Lake Butler, FL. A funeral service will be held on Monday at 10 o’clock at the Groton Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1230 Flanders Road, Mystic. Interment with Military Honors will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from 4 until 6 o’clock at the Byles-Groton Memorial Home, 310 Thames St. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Perpetual Education Fund, 50 E. North Temple, Salt Lake City, UT, 84150-1501.
It is with a heavy heart as I write this to inform you of a shipmate that has left on eternal patrol on 28 April.
Captain Bruce Bullough, served onboard Tullibee from July 1984 until October 1986 as Executive Officer. May we all take a brief moment and pray for him and his family.Tom Barnhart
n1sxu55@gmail.com