Richard Columbus Fisher

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about Richard Columbus Fisher, out of Henderson County. Now settle in, because this is one of those stories where the man himself barely gets to see the finish line. Richard Columbus Fisher came into this world on May 20, 1888, a native of Falls County, Texas.

He set his sights on education, and in 1913 he graduated from what was then Prairie View Normal College. One year later, he walked through the doors of Blackshear Colored School in Athens and began his career. That was the beginning.

Now, what happened next is the kind of thing that makes you understand why certain names get carved in brick. Fisher became principal of that school, and under his leadership, something steady and remarkable took shape. A seven-grade facility grew, grade by grade, into a twelve-grade accredited high school.

Think about what that means for the students who passed through those doors, what it meant for a community watching that school reach higher. And in 1932, students moved into a new brick building. A brand-new building.

And the people of Athens made sure everyone knew whose vision had built that moment. They renamed it Fisher High School. Richard Columbus Fisher died on September 4, 1932.

He did not have long to stand inside those new walls. But his name was on the building. And it stayed there.

What the marker says

(May 20, 1888 - Sept. 4, 1932) A native of Falls County, R. C. Fisher graduated in 1913 from what was then Prairie View Normal College. The following year he began his career in education at Blackshear Colored School in Athens. Fisher later became principal of the school, which grew from a seven-grade facility to twelve-grade accredited high school during his years of leadership. In 1932, students moved into a new brick building, renamed Fisher High School in his honor.