The St. Joseph-Ogden School District will honor Glenn Fisher tonight.
The district voted in June 2020 to name the athletic complex after Fisher, the district’s longtime custodian, bus driver and volunteer.
The ceremony will take place at 6:40 tonight.
Former football coach Dick Duval will read Fisher’s bio and former principal Mike McKenzie will also be in attendance.
Fisher passed away in January but for decades before that, his main concern was that the facilities and sports fields at the high school looked immaculate.
“Glenn Fisher was one of the hardest-working, selfless and humble men I have ever come across,” SJO Superintendent Brian Brooks said.
Fisher’s longtime friend, Dick Duval, said Fisher deserved the honor.Duval was SJO’s football coach for 28 season, compiling a 251-75 record before retiring after the 2015 season.
Duval said Fisher’s dedication to the grounds at SJO were undeniable.In 1998, the Spartans played a Wednesday playoff game. It was a rainy night and tore up the field.
Fisher joked with Duval that they didn’t need to worry about the field because they were going to lose Saturday. The Spartans were playing Central A&M on their home field. The Raiders hadn’t lost at home in five years.
The Spartans defeated them 18-12.
Duval said as they approached St. Joseph on the trip home, he could see the football field lights on.
“I looked out and there was Glenn, who had raced home to start rolling the field in preparation for our next playoff game,” Duval said. “Typical Glenn. He would do anything for the kids.”
Fisher’s friend, Alicia Maxey, said that he took immense satisfaction in the work he put into on the fields. But it wasn’t his personality to boast.
“The football field was his pride and joy,” she said. “It always had to be perfect, but honestly, so did everything else.”
Maxey said Fisher was more than a custodian and groundskeeper. He was a great role model for the students at SJO.
“He acts all tough, but underneath he is a kind and gentle soul who would do anything for you,” she said. “Glenn cared so much for the kids and the school. He was always there to lend a hand. To me, I think Glenn represents the person I wish I had as a father. Someone kind, gentle and supportive no matter what.”
Brooks agreed Fisher is a good role model for everyone in the district.
“I have said many times that our world could use more Glenn Fishers,” Brooks said. “He was, in general, one of the best human beings I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know.”
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