Aug. 12, 2008

EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette alumnus James R. Fisher '77 was honored by the Delaware Chapter of the National Football Foundation with the Contribution to Amateur Football Award. This annual award is intended to provide national recognition to an individual whose efforts and activities in support of the Foundation and its goals have been local in nature. Fisher's impact on football in the Lehigh Valley and New Jersey spans the collegiate, high school and youth levels.

"My parents believed in giving back and not just with money, but more importantly with one's time," he said. "Whether it's the local little league or Lafayette, my wife, Tracey, and I have been very fortunate to have been able to assist in seeing young athletes have access to quality facilities. The greatest gift has not been with the kids that go on and play in college, but with the ones that were heading in the wrong direction that changed their course. I'd like to think I had a hand in influencing their choices."

Fisher was one of three lead donors to the recently-completed Fisher Stadium transformation project. This $23 million project includes the Frances D. Fisher Memorial Scoreboard, a state-of-the-art video matrix board in the northwest corner of Fisher Stadium.

Fisher and his wife, Tracey, have established two funds that benefit student-athletes--the James J. and Frances D. Fisher P'77 Scholarship and the James R. '77 and Tracey Fisher Athletics Enhancement Endowment.

In recognition of their generosity to Lafayette, two residence halls were named after Jim and Tracey and the Fishers have also received Lafayette's highest honor with their 2003 induction into the Societe d'Honneur.

Fisher's football coaching career began 20 years ago with Allentown's (N.J.) Pop Warner program. He next served as the offensive coordinator at Allentown High School (N.J.) and also spent several years on the Board of Allentown Pop Warner. The Fishers donated the lights and funded the field house renovation at Allentown. Most recently, Fisher became an offensive coach for the football team at perennial powerhouse Notre Dame High School (N.J.).

Fisher, an Economics and Business major at Lafayette, is currently the Managing Member of Fisher Capital Corp., LLC, which sponsors the annual Sunshine All-Star Football Classic. He also serves as a Trustee of Lafayette College, the American Foundation for the Blind and the National World War II Museum. In addition, Fisher was inducted into the Millstone-Roosevelt Little League Hall of Fame for his work with the organization.