Richard H. Fisher
Orthopedic surgeon Richard Harding Fisher graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in Salem, Virginia, in 1941 where he made All-State guard and tackle as a football player. His prowess on the field won him a football scholarship at the University of Richmond. Staying in Richmond, he attended the Medical College of Virginia and became an orthopedic surgeon.
Richard and his wife Anne Fisher live in Salem. They have six children: sons, Richard, Jr.; Robert; James; and daughters: Anne Fisher Andrews; Gwynn Fisher Franklin; and Amy Fisher Miles. Dr. Fisher has four main loves--his family, the practice of medicine, collecting and preserving any and all information concerning the graduates of Salem’s high schools over the years, and the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association.
To his credit are several ‘firsts’ for the Roanoke Valley: he performed the first total hip replacement; established the Life Guard-1 helicopter emergency service; founded the Lewis-Gale Hospital Foundation; and established the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association. In 1972, Dr. Fisher served as President of the Lewis-Gale Clinic; in 1975 as President of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgery; in 1976 as President of the Virginia Orthopedic Society; and from 1974-85 was on the City of Salem School Board, serving as Chairman four of those years.
Dr. Dick Fisher was named “Father of the Year” for youth leadership in 1972 in recognition of his many years of service as team physician for “Little League” and sand-lot teams and the next year received a “Plaque of Recognition” from the Salem Sports Foundation for similar service to the Andrew Lewis High football teams. In 1980, the Salem/Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce chose him for its Good Citizen Award, the same year that the Rotary Club of Salem honored him with its Outstanding Citizen Award. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes recognized Dick Fisher in 1991 for his outstanding athletic careers at Andrew Lewis High School and the University of Richmond and for loyal support of FDC activities. Even more related to his profession are his citations for very significant work in the “Polio Plus” Program to immunize the children of the world and in 1981 the Roanoke Chapter of The Links, Inc. paid tribute to Dr. Fisher’s service contributed in correcting the club feet of two African boys.
In the past, this team physician served the Salem Rebels Hockey Team and more recently placed concerted effort in establishing the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association, which awards thousands of dollars in scholarships to Salem High School graduates. This organization, with the help of Dick Fisher, has published a hard-back directory which details comprehensive information about Salem’s alumni, with an update planned periodically.
In recognition of his outstanding career achievements, Richard Harding Fisher was among the charter members inducted into the Salem Alumni Hall of Fame established by the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association in 1996.
