At SHS Rick Fisher ’68 was a football standout. He was a key player on the undefeated 1967 NOL title team, and after the season was named first team All-NOL and first team All-Ohio. In addition, Rick earned All-American honors and was presented the 1968 Scarlet S Award. Says a fellow alum, “I remember hitchhiking home from college to watch Rick lead the Whippets to victory in an NOL championship game. He clearly was a superior field leader.”
He received a scholarship to play football at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky where he earned his bachelor’s degree. In 1971 he was named Ohio Valley Conference Player Of The Year. He became the first Murray State running back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
Rick signed a contract with the National Football League’s St. Louis Cardinals in 1973 and then the Florida Blazers of the World Football League in 1974. In 1981 he was inducted into Murray State’s Athletics Hall of Fame.
Rick’s career was spent in teaching and coaching, and he excelled. For 15 seasons, he was head coach at Murray High School where he compiled a record of 129 wins and 54 losses. His teams won several district championships, two regional championships, and played for the Kentucky State Championship in 1994.
Three of Rick’s former players played in the NFL, and two of them earned Super Bowl championship rings. Tim Masthay is still playing in the NFL; he wears the #8 jersey and is the punter for the Green Bay Packers.
After retirement, Rick was inducted into the Murray High School Hall of Fame as a coach.
He married Susan Williams in 1984. They have a daughter, Hope, who lives in San Antonio, Texas. Rick and Susan reside in Murray. They enjoy boating on beautiful Kentucky Lake and love camping and RVing. They share a passion for rescuing and adopting dogs, and they travel with their nine “fur kids.”
Nominator: Mike Johnson