C.F. (FRED) FISCHER III

WardWilson

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Posted by: WardWilson
Date: Apr 09 2012 2:39 PM

Ward Wilson Memory Hill Funeral Home, Cemetery and Crematory
2414 Hartford Highway
Dothan, Alabama 36305
334-792-4194

www.wardwilson.com

C.F. (Fred) Fischer III passed away March 27, 2012 in his home
surrounded by family and friends. He will be remembered as a loving
husband and father, a generous friend, a dedicated businessman, and a
sharp wit.

Mr. Fischer was born on June 11, 1930 in Birmingham. He grew up in
Birmingham, where he met Gloria June Crawford, his wife of 47 years.
After serving with the Army in Korea, Fischer became Vice President of
Malone Freight in Birmingham.

In 1963, he left Malone to start the Chattahoochee Industrial Railroad
for Great Northern Paper’s plant in Cedar Springs, Georgia. Under his
leadership, that railroad was recognized as the most efficiently run
and profitable short line in the country.

In 1970, he became president of the Hartford and Slocomb Railroad. He
worked tirelessly to promote the railroad and local economic
development, and was instrumental in attracting several large
employers to the region. After the H&S was bought by Itel Corp.,
Fischer worked as an internal consultant for the San Francisco-based
company and continued as president of the railroad. In 1980, with his
longtime colleague Earl Durden, he founded Rail Switching Service,
Inc,, a pioneer in contracting rail yard traffic management in the
country. He was also one of the founders of Central Bank of Dothan,
now BBVA Compass.

Fischer was known for his letter writing, and his opinions were
regularly published in The Economist, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal,
and many other publications. With former ICC chairman J. Haden
Alldredge, he authorized a widely cited text on Competition as a
Factor in Common Carrier Rate Making, and well as three other books of
stories and correspondence.

Having spent much of his career traveling, he passed his retirement
years in Dothan, blessed by good friends. He was preceded in death by
his wife Gloria, and is survived by his three sons, David, Mark, and
Ted, and six grandchildren, Johannes, Rebecca, Stephen, Megan,
Jonathan, and Mary.

Services will be held Monday, April 16 at 11:00 am at the Church of
the Nativity, 205 Holly Lane, Dothan. Serving as honorary pallbearers
are Roland Barnes, Spiro Cheriogotis, Raymond Dees, Tom Frezell, Chuck
Harris, Bob Martin, Forest Suber, and O.D. Warren.

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