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Photo Courtesy of Robert
Johnson
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2007 ROBERT G. FISHER
March 03, 2007 -- Presentation
of the 2005 Austen Warburton Award
(Left to Right) Jerry Rosenthal,
David McKinney abd Bob Fisher
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Bob Fisher is descended
from a family of very early Californians. Two of his great grandfathers,
William Fisher and Julian Hanks, came from Baja, California,
where they had met, in 1835. They built a merchant ship and sailed
into Monterey bay to begin lives in Santa Clara Valley. The two
operated a gristmill for a time. Hanks continued to operate the
ship and mill while Fisher bought land in the south valley. Hanks
was on the first Junta of San Jose and was sent to Monterey as
a delegate to help write the constitution of California.
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William's son, Fiacro,
bought property on the Laguna Seco land grant and built a home
which is now an historical landmark, known locally as the Coyote
Ranch.
Fiacro's son, George met
and married Helen Heple, whose father, Emil, operated the General
Store in Coyote. He was also postmaster of the post office that
now resides in History Park, San José. The young couple
settled on an apricot orchard in Cupertino and raised their three
children Eldon, Bob and Marion, there. All attended Cupertino
elementary School and Fremont High School in Sunnyvale.
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(Above) General Store in Coyote known as the "12 Mile
House"
(Left) Original Coyote post office now in
History Park
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Bob graduated from San Jose State College in 1940 with a degree
in Accounting. While waiting for his "greetings" from
Uncle Sam, he worked for Hales Department Store on South First
Street. His stint in the Army Air Force lasted some 5 years with
2 ½ of them spent in the China, Burma and India theater.
Following his discharge, Bob went to work for Anderson Barngrover
Division of Food Machinery Corporation. He later moved to Central
Engineering Laboratories of FMC where he retired as Controller
in 1983 after 37 years with the firm.
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Bob married Beverly Hansen
in 1951 and they have 3 children, Elizabeth, Jeanne and Rob and
3 grandchildren, Chris, Karen and Victoria. All live in the San
Jose area.
Bob spent a few years as advisor to the Junior Achievement program
and was also involved with the FMC United Fund drives. For a
time, he could be found batting balls for neighborhood Little
League.
Since retirement, he is enjoying traveling, bridge, bowling and
working on his family's genealogy, and of course, working with
the California Pioneers. He has served as President, Treasurer,
the New Almaden Cemetery group, registrar at meetings, and most
recently, with Beverly, the Paulson House Committee.
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(Above) The Fisher Family enjoying the luncheon.
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