East Mississippi Community College acknowledged Black History Month and recognized one of its homegrown legends Monday.
The school held its annual Black History Month program on the Mayhew campus Monday, honoring and dedicating a building to EMCC criminal justice instructor Johnny W. Fisher, who died in August after nine years teaching at EMCC.
Fisher was among the first African- American students to come to EMCC, then known as East Mississippi Junior College in 1969 and quickly became a standout athlete on the school’s football team. After a career in law enforcement, Fisher returned to EMCC in 2008. In his law enforcement career, he served as a correctional officer in Washington D.C., and served on the Baltimore Police Department. He joined the Drug Enforcement Administration and served as an agent, often working undercover. In addition to his role as faculty at EMCC,
His granddaughters Blaise Fisher,17, and Stefania Fisher, 2, unveiled a plaque officially naming the Mayhew campus math and science building for Fisher.
“He was my neighbor across the hall, and his door was always open,” said EMCC Faculty Association President Alison Alexander. “Students were in and out all the time. We wanted to pay a little tribute to him and his legacy, and that’s why we decided to name the math and science building in his honor.”
Fisher’s widow, Currie B. Fisher, reminisced about her late husband.
“John had a funny side, but you had to earn it to know it,” Currie said. “His compassionate side was always there. He never saw himself above anybody, and he didn’tmind leaning down to pick someone up, because that’s what someone did to him.”
She said her husband just wanted to give back.
“John didn’t just care about Columbus or EMCC or Mississippi, he wanted people to be great in their nation,” Currie said.
EMCC President Emeritus Rick Young spoke of Fisher as a pioneer for EMCC.
“When he reached out to me about working with students at East Mississippi Community College, I knew immediately that he could make a difference, a positive difference in the lives of our students, and he did,” Young said.
Young also said it was appropriate for the first building built to expand the Mayhew campus to be named for Fisher.
The speaker for the program was Rita Felton, a retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant and consultant. Felton’s speech centered on “standing on the shoulders of giants,” and she listed several African American pioneers, including abolitionist Frederick Douglass, cosmetic entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker and politician and activist Jesse Jackson.
“Character matters,” Felton said. “It is at the heart of leadership, and today, as we celebrate Black History Month, that’s what we’re celebrating.”