By MARLENE SAND
Times-Union Feature Writer
"Silence is golden"
is the age-old advice given by Mrs. George Fisher to today's wives
of athletic coaches just starting their careers.
Mrs. Fisher is well-qualified to speak on the subject. For 19
years of her married life, her husband coached Warsaw high school
teams. During those years, experience taught her many lessons.
The Fishers live on a farm northeast of Leesburg. They have two
children 17-year-old Duke, a senior this year at Warsaw high school,
and 15-year-old Becky, a sophomore. The former Miriam DeFries,
Mrs. Fisher is a native of Kosciusko county, spent her childhood
in Milford.
As she reminisced, it was apparent that to Mrs. Fisher those years
her husband coached young boys meant a great deal to her. The
decision that was the hardest for her husband to make was that
of resigning.
As the wife of a coach, Mrs. Fisher had to face unpleasant as
well as pleasant situations. Many times fans during the excitement
of a close game heckled and criticized. After several such experiences,
she realized that she must learn to deafen her ears. Remarks were
make during the heat of the contest that would not be make under
any other circumstances.
What she prefers to remember are those times her husband's team
won there were many of them. Of great satisfaction to the Fishers
are those boys who have continued to keep in contact with them.
Many still visit the coach, write to him asking for advice. Such
incidents are of never-ending pleasure.
During the war, many letters were received from serviceman thanking
Coach Fisher for the part he had played in building character.
Discipline is listed foremost among his training rules. Each young
man found that training in later life to be invaluable. Mrs. Fisher
agrees with her husband, says "I believe it (meaning training
in discipline) gives children a stronger sense of security."
Mrs. Fisher says she often thinks of their home as "Fisher's
Hotel" because of the crowds of young people who assemble
in her kitchen for a snack. In tense moments before a game during
those years Mr. Fisher coached, the household was silent. No one
seemed to feel like talking. Once the game was over, she knew
whether her husband wanted to talk, acted accordingly.
Seeing her husband work with a boy, who in the beginning seemed
to have no qualifications of an athlete, help him to become an
accomplished and confident sportsman was perhaps the most rewarding
result of being a coach's wife. She still gets a thrill when former
students stop her on the street and ask, "How's Coach?"
Mrs. Fisher first met her husband through her sister who is married
to his brother in Muncie. At this time he had been coaching at
Warsaw high school eight years. "I was scared to death"
was her comment on her first meeting him, an East star, Coach
Fisher was a popular figure in any circle of society. One thing
that drew them together was their mutual love of sports. She married
him when she was 19.
For 15 years Mr. Fisher coached three sports, football, basketball
and track. He had little time to spend with his family. Mrs. Fisher
feel that today's coaches' wives are fortunate in as much as they
supervise but one activity.
Football is her favorite sport, Mrs. Fisher said, "because
I knew my husband enjoyed it the most." Naming the high school
athletic field "Fisher Field" was a great honor, the
proudest moment in her life. She said she and her husband were
most grateful to the people of Warsaw, that she knew of no other
place that had given so much honor and recognition to a coach.
"We will always feel especially close to those who have done
so much for us."
Mrs. Fisher is a beautiful and gracious person who has learned
the value of patience, tolerance and self control, qualities that
all might strive for as their own.
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