President Loeschke awards Vic Fisher’s 50 years of service to Towson.
He came to campus in an era when a gallon of gas cost 27 cents, John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as our nation’s 35th president and “Bonanza” was one of the most popular shows on TV.
During the 30th annual Service Awards Celebration earlier this week, Victor “Vic” Fisher, an associate professor in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice, was recognized for being the first TU faculty or staff member to reach the 50-year service milestone.
President Maravene Loeschke and Provost Tim Chandler presided over the two-hour ceremony, held inside SECU Arena for the first time after outgrowing previous venues like West Village Commons and the University Union. In all, 301 faculty and staff members were honored for their length of service, which ranged from five to 50 years.
Not surprisingly, the size of each milestone group grew smaller as emcee Mike Noll, of the Office of Human Resources, called the honorees to the stage to receive their certificates from Dr. Loeschke or Dr. Chandler. Recipients also received presidential hugs, but no such greeting from Provost Chandler.
“You’ll be receiving no hugs from me,” he said, jokingly. “British decorum dictates a stiff upper lip and a firm handshake only.”
Although not all honorees received hugs, all received cheers and applause from a supportive audience of their peers and colleagues. The loudest applause, and two standing ovations, were reserved for the final faculty member called to the stage: Vic Fisher.
Fisher came to the university when it was known as the Maryland State Teachers College. Enrollment then was roughly 3,000 students, compared to 22,500 today. He continues to challenge and inspire students in anthropology courses and actively pursues research interests, as well.
“Rarely does a long-established department have someone who has been there from its onset,” said Dr. Loeschke, in introducing Fisher to the SECU Arena audience on Wednesday.
“Dr. Fisher’s knowledge and memories of the growth of this campus are unmatched. As an archaeologist, he literally knows where the bones are buried! He remains a vital part of campus life. In everything he does, Dr. Fisher brings his considerable energy, graciousness, intellect, wit and warmth, making him an inspiration and a joy to work with. While it is the quantity of his years here for which he is being recognized today, it is the quality of his character and work that most deeply impacts his students and colleagues.”
Terry Cooney, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, also had fond words of praise for Fisher.
“Vic Fisher has served Towson under four different institutional names and began teaching before either his department or the College of Liberal Arts emerged,” Cooney observed following the ceremony.
“His career creates a record of commitment to students, intellectual liveliness and integrity through a long period of perpetual change, enormous growth and ever-present challenges. Vic reminds us through example that we must expect and welcome change even as we remember the values that are unchanging and central to what we do.”
In addition to the service awards, the 2014 President’s Diversity Awards were also presented by Debbie Seeberger, assistant to the President for Diversity and Equal Opportunity. Winners included Joanna Basuray, Department of Nursing (faculty, general); Marianne Dunn, Department of Psychology (faculty, research); Seana Coulter, Career Center (staff); Total Tiger Department, Athletics (administrative department); TU Center for STEM Excellence, Fisher College of Science and Mathematics (academic department).
