logo
Login Subscribe
Google Play App Store
  • News
    • Obituaries
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinion
  • Sports
  • E-edition
  • Calendar
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisers
    • Form Submission
    • About Us
    • News
      • Obituaries
      • Lifestyle
      • Opinion
    • Sports
    • E-edition
    • Calendar
    • Archives
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Advertisers
      • Form Submission
      • About Us
Fisher, more than a ranch
B:, Sports
March 13, 2025
Fisher, more than a ranch
By Rodney Haltom sports EDITOR

When you think of sports in Eufaula, Oklahoma, one of the first names that comes to mind is the Selmons. However, there is another family that is synonymous with the Selmons, the Fisher family. The Fishers are known for their 15,000 acres ranch but once you look into the history of the family, it is a remarkable story.

Roy Jr. and his wife Elizabeth moved their family to Eufaula in 1954. Roy was the son of Roy Fisher Sr. who was a three-sport letterman (football, baseball and track) at the University of Oklahoma. Roy would follow his father’s lead as he too was a three-sport letterman at Edmond High School and played collegiate basketball at Oklahoma State A&M. The Fishers had five children – David, Chris, Gary, Ann and Rix.

“The Fishers are a great group of people. All of them, including Roy, were impressive athletes. Roy loved his children and introduced them to sports at an early age. Each of them excelled in sports and cared deeply about their family, friends and the community,” close family friend Gary Moores said.

Roy coached little league baseball for years and volunteered as a member of the football chain gang at Eufaula for 40 years.

David was a tremendous baseball player at Eufaula, earning All-State status in 1971 and played center and nose guard in football. He earned a scholarship to pitch at Oklahoma State University.

“We were very fortunate and owe a lot to the Selmons. If it wasn’t for recruiters coming down to watch them we may have never been seen. We had a solid group of athletes at Eufaula and we enjoyed it,” David Fisher said.

Fisher graduated and went on to teach and coach high school baseball for 20 years in Oklahoma including seven years at Eufaula.

Chris Fisher was in the senior group of Ironheads that included Lee Roy and Dewey Selmon. Fisher was explosive on defense in football and was a great basketball player.

“Chris and Lee Roy were tough in whatever sport they played. You didn’t want to drive in the paint against those two in basketball. They were a part of those Eufaula teams that went to state. The Fisher family is just great and hard working people. All of them are,” former teammate and University of Oklahoma 1974-75 National Champion football player Rusty Griffis said.

“We were rough on Rusty back then. He was a sophomore when we were seniors and practiced and played hard. One of my favorite memories is playing with Lee Roy and when he jumped up to dunk that basketball, he would come down with his elbows out and almost always knocked two defenders down,” Chris Fisher said.

Chris Fisher earned a scholarship to Rice University where he played defensive end and graduated with a Business degree. Chris is a banker and in the art business.

Gary Fisher was a sensational football and baseball player. He started as a sophomore on the football team. It was a football team that had multiple sets of brothers on the roster.

Gary graduated in 1973 and earned a baseball scholarship to Kansas State to play baseball after batting .415 his senior year at Eufaula.

“I greatly appreciate our Fisher lineage going back to our great grandfather as far as I know. He was a medical doctor. My grandfather and dad both were great athletes. The truth is my siblings and I were taught some very good life lessons by our father and mother at a very early age: 1) Work before play 2) do your chores well and be on time.

3) Practice makes perfect.

4) find something you enjoy doing and work to become the very best at it.

5) Last but not least, be humble and give thanks to God and his Son in all circumstances.

“We were indoctrinated with the principle of “don’t ever let anyone outwork you!”

“I have, in turn, tried to teach these same things to my two sons and quite a few people I know have family backgrounds embedded in these same or similar beliefs.”

“Winning back-toback Area Championships and advancing to the State Tournament my junior and senior years as an Ironhead basketball player was the best highlight of my sports days!”

“I have many fond memories in football and baseball as well at EHS and I would love to do it all over again,” Gary Fisher said.

Gary went on to graduate from Kansas State and is a dentist in Tulsa.

Ann Fisher was a terrific basketball player at Eufaula and walked on the team at Oklahoma State University. She would ultimately move back to McIntosh County where she attended Connors State College and earned a degree in Horse medicine.

“Ann was a great basketball player. We would play all the time on the weekends. Our team was called the Raiford Raiders,” former Eufaula schoolteacher Kay Luna said.

Rix Fisher was a three-sport athlete for the Ironheads. He excelled in baseball and earned a scholarship to the University of Tulsa where he played catcher in 1978. Fisher would find himself transferring to Rogers State University due to Tulsa ending their baseball program.

Rix went on to work on the family ranch and other area ranches until his untimely death.

The sports success did not end there with the Fisher family as David’s son Nathan played college baseball at William Jewell University. Chris’ son Scott played baseball at the University of Missouri and Gary’s son Bradley played baseball for Oral Roberts University.

No doubt the Fisher family is a family of sportsmen but quality citizens who excels in life and has never forgotten their home roots.

Checotah lit up the sky this 4th of July
A: Main, News...
Checotah lit up the sky this 4th of July
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
July 10, 2025
The City of Checotah showed off its bold stripes, bright stars and brave hearts this Fourth of July after working countless hours so residents could celebrate their freedom with lots of family fun and...
this is a test
A: Main, News...
Sexual Assault Awareness Honor Walk
July 10, 2025
Friday, July 11 at 12 p.m. Posey Park, Eufaula Show your support for survivors Take a stand against violence! Muscogee (Creek) Nation Center for Victim Services
this is a test
A: Main, News...
Annual Memorial Service planned at Honey Springs Battlefield
July 10, 2025
CHECOTAH — Honey Springs Battlefield will hold its annual memorial service on Saturday, July 19, at 10:30 a.m. to honor the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Honey Springs near Checotah. The service ...
this is a test
Farewell to Checotah’s friend, Jerri Reaves
A: Main, News...
Farewell to Checotah’s friend, Jerri Reaves
By LADONNA RHODES STAFF WRITER 
July 10, 2025
Last Thursday family and friends said goodbye to former city councilwoman Jerri Reaves who had passed away on June 26 at the age of 82. Jerri graduated from Checotah High School in 1962. In 1980, she ...
this is a test
News
Trump administration freezes over $70 million state’s education funds
By NURIA MARTINEZ-KEEL OKLAHOMA VOICE 
July 10, 2025
States won’t receive funds from six federal programs, including after-school care and English learner support, until further notice. OKLAHOMA CITY — The Trump administration is indefinitely withholdin...
this is a test
News
Jeff Starling launches campaign for attorney general
July 10, 2025
TULSA ––Jeff Starling, Oklahoma’s Secretary of Energy and Environment, has officially announced his candidacy for Attorney General of Oklahoma. Starling is a conservative, attorney, businessman, and d...
this is a test
United for Oklahoma
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
Plumb Theatre News
News
Plumb Theatre News
By MATTIE AND PAUL MALOY PLUMB THEATRE 
July 10, 2025
Never too early to start singing and the HALLELUJAH HONEYS are representative of that. Kate Andrews will be singing and playing with two other Honeys, Aubree,13, and Charlee, 10. They are some cuties ...
this is a test
Freedom Fest
News
Freedom Fest
July 10, 2025
Checotah residents celebrated their freedom with lots of family fun and fireworks on July 4th weekend at Freedom Fest.
this is a test
Police training
News
Police training
July 10, 2025
Recently local law enforcement trained for two days on different scenarios that might arise during traffic stops, hostage situations, domestic disturbances, and more.
this is a test
News
Two from area on UCO Honor Rolls
July 10, 2025
EDMOND - Two from this area have made he University of Central Oklahoma recently announced the students named to the university’s honor rolls; a distinction given to those who achieve the highest acad...
this is a test
Warriors of God, ready yourselves
commentary
Warriors of God, ready yourselves
July 10, 2025
Of my 56 years of being in this world, 50 of those years I have been filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. I was only six years old when I attended my first Tiger Mount...
this is a test
Facebook
Twitter
Tweets
Twitter
Tweets

MCINTOSH COUNTY DEMOCRAT
300-A S. Broadway
Checotah, OK
74426

(918) 473-2313

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Mcintosh Democrat

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy