Dr. George D. Fisher

1924 - 2014

Dr. George D. Fisher

Dr. George D. Fisher, age 90 of Clarksville, passed away Saturday, December 20, 2014 at Grace Healthcare.

George was born July 9, 1924, in Greenbrier, TN, to the late Harry Fisher and Lena Agnes Gann Fisher. He was also preceded in death by his son, Mickey Fisher; three brothers, Hugh Fisher, Larry Fisher, and Burr Fisher; and two sisters, Martha Givan and Faye Fort.

Dr. Fisher is survived by his wife, Myra Dixon Fisher of Clarksville; daughter, Stephanie Fisher (Red) Roberts of Nashville; daughter-in-law, Mary Fisher of Clarksville; six grandchildren, Amy (Chris) Shurden, Allison Roberts, Brad (Erika) Roberts, Hunter Fisher, Brett (Katie) Fisher, and Ryne (Ellen) Fisher; and six great-grandchildren, Kate Shurden, Owen Shurden, Bailey Fisher, Myra Fisher, Mickey Fisher, and Anna Claire Fisher.

Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, December 23, at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home with Dr. John David Laida officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be on Monday, December 22, from 4 to 6 p.m., and on Tuesday, December 23, from 10 a.m. until the hour of service at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Hunter Fisher, Brett Fisher, Ryne Fisher, Brad Roberts, Chris Shurden, and L.M. Ellis. Honorary Pallbearers will be former Austin Peay basketball players, who were coached by Dr. Fisher.

Known as "Coach" to many, Dr. George Fisher was associated with the Austin Peay athletics program from 1946 until 1977 as a star player, standout coach and later as athletic director. The Greenbrier native came to Austin Peay in the mid-1940s and really never left, being involved with APSU and APSU athletics for the remainder of his life. He was the first recipient of the Joy Award as the Most Valuable Senior Athlete in 1947. Dr. Fisher was also selected to succeed the legendary Dave Aaron as basketball coach in 1962 and athletic director in 1972. George was part of the first APSU Athletics Hall of Fame class in 1978 and was only the third APSU-inductee into the OVC Hall of Fame in 1988, following former APSU president Joe Morgan and Dave Aaron.

He was one of the captains of Dave Aaron's first football teams in 1946 and was named All-Volunteer State Athletic Conference in 1947. He held most of the school pass-receiving records until broken by his future son-in-law, Harold "Red" Roberts. He recently was honored as one of the 1940s football greats when the new Governors Stadium opened in the fall of 2014.

Fisher also starred in basketball. He was captain of the 1947-48 team, also earning All-Volunteer Athletic Conference that season, and was part of the program's first VSAC title a year later. He was selected VSAC all-tourney for a third straight year that season.

His professional baseball career took him to such stops as Waycross, GA, and Greenville, TX, as well as Shreveport, LA.

In 1958, George returned to his alma mater as an assistant football coach while working on his masters degree, which he attained in 1959. Along the way, he served as the program's head golf coach, freshman basketball coach and coached the track team to two VSAC titles during his three-year stint as head coach. In 1962-63, he succeeded his mentor, Aaron, as basketball coach and coached for nine seasons. His overall record was 90-125, but he was the man who helped guide the Governors from the VSAC to the OVC in 1963-64. He was chosen OVC Coach of the Year in 1967. Dr. Fisher remained close to the basketball program after stepping down in favor of assistant Lake Kelly in 1971. His son, Mickey, was a guard for the Governors during the Fly Williams Era in the early 1970s.

Dr. Fisher was Athletic Director and was instrumental when APSU chose to honor the University's outstanding athletes with the initiation of the Athletics Hall of Fame. After leaving as Athletics Director in 1977, Dr. Fisher remained at the University in the Physical Education Department as an instructor into the 1990s. However, he continued his association with the Athletics Department. He became chairman of APSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993 and served in that capacity until the early 2000s.

George was a follower of the Baptist faith and attended both Greenbrier Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Clarksville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mickey Fisher Memorial Scholarship Fund, University Advancement Office, P.O. Box 4417, Clarksville, TN 37044.

Arrangements entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040; (931) 645-6488. Online condolences may be made at www.neal-tarpley.com.