William A. Fisher

Mr. William A. Fisher, 97, passed away on Friday, January 15 at his home in Rock Hill, SC.

Mr. Fisher was born in Noblesville, IN, July 10, 1923 to Leland and Dora (Taylor) Fisher, earned a bachelor’s degree from Franklin College (Indiana), and a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism in 1946. His education was interrupted by service in the U.S. Army during WWII. Mr. Fisher worked on newspapers in Amarillo, Texas, and Fort Wayne, Indiana, before coming to Kent State and briefly while there worked summers as an editor for the Canton Repository and in public relations for B.F. Goodrich Company in Akron. During a long teaching career at Kent State (1950-1984), Professor Fisher taught law of mass communications, journalism ethics, news writing and reporting public affairs, editing, editorial writing, advertising, and public relations. He also served as associate director of the School of Journalism and as director of public relations (then called the news bureau) for Kent State University. He was instrumental in founding the Kent State chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi, in 1953, and acted as the chapter’s advisor for 31 years.  In 1983 he received the chapter’s Outstanding Journalism Graduate Award, an award since renamed the William A. Fisher Award. He was a member of the journalism honorary Kappa Tau Alpha, the leadership society Omicron Delta Kappa, and the Society of Professional Journalists.  He was adviser to the campus newspaper, The Daily Kent Stater, from 1954 to 1966. Professor Fisher also served the university at large as a member of the Faculty Senate, representing the College of Fine and Professional Arts for 15 years and serving on the executive committee. In 1979-80 he was President of the Ohio Journalism Educators Association.

Mr. Fisher was a longstanding member of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. From 1971 to 1973 he served two terms as chairman of the newspaper division. In 1973-74 he was chairman of the association’s advisory board and member of its executive committee. He was also appointed to its special committee on journalism ethics.

After retiring from Kent State as Professor Emeritus in the School of Journalism, Mr. Fisher joined the faculty of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, as Professor of Mass Communication (1984-1993) where he worked on developing the curriculum. He continued to teach part-time at Winthrop for more than a dozen years after retiring and was recognized for exceptional dedication and service to Winthrop University.

His book reviews and articles appeared in Journalism Quarterly, Grassroots Editor, the South Carolina Press Association Bulletin and elsewhere. His distinguished professional career also included membership in the National Conference of Editorial Writers, the South Carolina Press Association, and the advisory board of the Student Press Law Center, Washington, D.C.  In 2008 Franklin College recognized Mr. Fisher with the Alumni Citation for Lifetime Achievement.

For many years Mr. Fisher attended the United Church of Christ of Kent, Ohio, and the Woodland United Methodist Church in Rock Hill.  Mr. Fisher was an active member of the Kiwanis Club since 1953, a past lieutenant governor, and the recipient of the Kiwanis International Award for 50 years of community service, and since his time at Franklin College, belonged to Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Harriett Will Fisher and three children: David Fisher (Sandra) of Pleasanton, CA, Linda Shanahan (Dennis) of South Bend, IN, and William Fisher Jr. of Cuyahoga Falls, OH; his grandchildren, Tracy Fisher, Heather Fisher, and Neil Fisher. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his children, William and Barbara.

Visitation will be held 6-8 PM Friday, January 22nd at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home in Kent. Private Graveside will be held Standing Rock Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the William A. Fisher Scholarship Fund, College of Communication and Information, 318 Library, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, Ohio 44242.

Services in care of Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 West Main Street, Kent, OH 44240.