Having moved into the senior category in Norman's medical community, he feels that his job now "is to speak out on some of these issues," such as tort reform. "I know that there are times when things happen, and we must take care of the patients." But he is dismayed by the huge awards, "especially when fifty percent goes into the lawyer's pockets. There are going to be incidents, and we need to be fair to the patients," he says. The large awards designated by juries have driven up the price of malpractice insurance costs until some doctors are choosing to close their practice. He indicating that when he was carrying a heavier patient load, he paid as much as $45,000 a year in insurance fees, "and there are some doctors with other types of surgical practices which are paying twice that."

But his love of the medical field and serving his patients is just one facet of Dr. McCullough. He has enjoyed a lifelong love of music and sports and which he continued in intramural sports at OU. He still plays the piano "for my own enjoyment" and plays for his Sunday School class at McFarlin Methodist Church each Sunday.

He and his wife, Marilyn, have three daughters and a son, who is a physician. They have seven grandchildren, including two granddaughters who are studying medicine. The McCulloughs enjoy hiking and have visited all the national parks in the United States. They particularly like Glacier National Park, and enjoy hiking several miles each day shooting photos along the way. After being warned of "a bear incident" in the park, they carry only water and cameras, not wanting to have food which might attract a bear. Photos, like those on the walls in his office, bring back many pleasant memories for them. "I just love getting out and seeing the wilderness. Then I come home, close my eyes, and dream a little." He also has great memories of annual trips to Jamaica for snorkeling. Although he hasn't snorkeled for several years, he has continued friendships with people in the medical community there.

Most Thursdays at noon, Dr. McCullough takes time to attend the Norman Rotary Club where he enjoys "great relationships" with people from the community. He returns in the early afternoon to his office. He is recuperating from a fall on the ice which resulted in four broken ribs. While his contemporaries are retiring, Dr. McCullough plans to continue his practice because, he says humbly, "I want to take care of people."