2005S0112-2  01/26/05


By:  Armbrister                                                 S.C.R. No. 3  



CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Texas joins the 
citizens of Port Lavaca in mourning the loss of King Fisher, who 
died January 7, 2005, at the age of 88; and
	WHEREAS, King Fisher owned and operated King Fisher Marine 
Service, Incorporated, for 58 years; he was noted for his 
generosity to his employees, the youth of Calhoun County, fire 
departments, Emergency Medical Service units, churches, and Boy 
Scout troops and for his unfailing support of the Gulf Intracoastal 
Canal; and
	WHEREAS, Born on January 14, 1916, King was a lifelong 
resident of Port Lavaca; he was the fourth son of Charles Everett 
and Kittie Grace Moss Fisher, having been preceded in death by his 
older brothers, Everett, Leonard Moss, and J.N. Fisher; he has also 
been preceded in death by his beloved grandson Jason LaQuay; he 
married Jewel Tanner, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Tanner of 
Port Lavaca, on August 13, 1937; he remained happily married to 
Jewel the rest of his life; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Fisher started King Fisher Machine Works by 
assembling a towboat with salvaged parts from junkyards and a used 
engine; he and Jewel built King Fisher Marine Service, 
Incorporated, into the largest dredging and marine construction 
business in Texas; and
	WHEREAS, Among King's many accomplishments was his 
development of the "walking spud" for dredges, which enabled a 
dredge to operate in a more efficient manner by "walking" down a 
channel; and
	WHEREAS, Under his leadership, his company dredged well over 
a quarter of a billion cubic yards of material for the United States 
Corps of Engineers and private industry, laid almost two million 
feet of marine pipelines, and drove approximately 300,000 pilings; 
and
	WHEREAS, At his own expense, he restored 2,000 feet of beach 
at Port O'Connor, thus demonstrating the beneficial use of dredged 
material; as a result, the beach was named "King Fisher Beach" in 
his honor; and
	WHEREAS, A highly respected community leader, King Fisher 
helped the Texas Historical Commission raise cannons from La 
Salle's vessel, Belle; he served as a director of the First National 
Bank of Port Lavaca and of the Seaport Bank in Seadrift; he was 
honored with numerous awards over his lifetime; and
	WHEREAS, King has been inducted into both the Pipeliners Hall 
of Fame and the National Rivers Hall of Fame; he received the 
National Achievement Award from the latter; in 2000, King was named 
one of Calhoun County's 25 Most Influential People of the 20th 
Century by the Port Lavaca/Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce; the 
chamber also gave King and Jewel the Man and Woman of the Year Award 
in 2004; and
	WHEREAS, Famous for his tenacity, integrity, and 
construction expertise, King Fisher was one of our most treasured 
citizens, and his contributions to the economic development of our 
state were invaluable; and
	WHEREAS, King Fisher lived his life to the fullest and was a 
devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and he leaves behind 
memories that will be treasured forever by his family and many 
friends; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved family of King 
Fisher:  his wife, Jewel Fisher; his daughters and sons-in-law, Ann 
Fisher Boyd and Waymon Boyd and Linda Fisher LaQuay and Timothy 
LaQuay; his grandchildren, Wayne Boyd, Randy Boyd, and Amy LaQuay; 
and his six great-grandchildren; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for his 
family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas 
Legislature, and that when the legislature adjourns this day, it do 
so in memory of King Fisher.


In memory of King Fisher.