Faculty:
Vice Principal, Chairman,
Teacher of Mathematics and Science, 1921-1923

Birth: January 14, 1892
Death: September 9, 1980

Parents:
Michael George Monroe Fisher (1855-1942)
Margaret M. Peeler Fisher (1860-1933)

Siblings:
Henry L. Junius Fisher (1880 – 1901)
Luther Vastine Fisher (1881-1964)
Myron Charles M. Fisher (1887-1954)
Edgar Walton Eugene Fisher (1896-1981)
Pearle Anna Camilla Fisher Ingram (1903-1985)

Spouse: Ethel Mae Cobb Fisher (1891-1966)
Married: June 27, 1916

Children:
Emily Margaret Fisher Mauney (1930-2008)
Hilbert Cobb Fisher

Burial:
Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery
Faith, Rowan County, North Carolina, USA

Source: www.findagrave.com, # 65146394

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Unidentified North Carolina newspaper, c. 28 Jun 1916. Acquired from Nick McEntire, Instructor of History at Rowan County Community College, via the Hilbert Cobb “H. C.” Fisher family July 2019. 

Married Tuesday

Ensign Hilbert Adam Fisher, of the United States navy, and Miss Ethel Mae Cobb, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Cobb, of eastern Guilford, were married Tuesday evening at 8 o’clock at the home of the bride’s parents on Gibsonville route 1. The ceremony was marked by beauty and simplicity and was witnessed by a large company of relatives and friends of the young couple.

The marriage took place in front of an improvised altar decorated with ferns and Queen Anne lace and lighted by candles. The bride, radiantly beautiful and attired in willow taffeta trimmed with lace and wearing a bridal veil, approached the altar on the arm of her father, who gave her in marriage. The words that joined the two young hearts together for life were spoken by Rev. T. S. Brown, assisted by Rev. J. H. C. Fisher, of Mt. Pleasant, an uncle of the groom. The impressive service of the Lutheran church was used and while the bridal party knelt at the altar they chanted the Lord’s prayer with the minister.

The maid of honor was the bride’s sister, Miss Hazel Cobb, who wore a beautiful creation of pink silk with silver trimmings. E. W. Fisher, of Salisbury, the groom’s brother, was the best man. Master J. D. May, Jr., the bride’s cousin, bore the ring in the heart of a Cape Jessamine. Miss Ada Stirewalt sang a solo just prior to the ceremony and played the wedding march. While the words of the ceremony were being spoken she played softly “Water Lilly.”

The wedding was followed by a reception and a buffet luncheon. Punch was served in the rear hall by Misses Maud Dawson, of Guilford college, and Mary Peck, of Mt. Pleasant. Misses Elizabeth and Cornelia Huffines and Inez Murray served ices and cake.

Ensign and Mrs. Fisher came to Greensboro by automobile and left on a late train Washington, where they will spend a short time. They will return to North Carolina on a visit to relatives before going to Newport, R. I., where the groom is stationed on the battleship New Hampshire.

The following relatives of the groom were present for the wedding: Mr. and Mrs. M. G. M. Fisher, his parents; Mr. and Mrs. Luther Fisher and Miss Pearl Fisher of Salisbury; Rev. J. H. C. Fisher and Misses Katherine and Annie Louise Fisher, of Mt. Pleasant.

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From: History of the Math Department at NCSU
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~njrose/Special/DeptHistory/1932-1957.html

Professor Yates retired as head of the mathematics department in 1932. Hilbert Fisher served as acting head for one year until John Harrelson, who was on leave at the time, could assume the headship in 1933. However, after just one year, Harrelson was summoned to be the chief administrator officer of the College. Fisher then took over as head and served from 1934 to 1957.

Hilbert A. Fisher was born on Jan. 14, 1892, in Salisbury, North Carolina. He graduated from Mount Pleasant Collegiate Institute (junior college) in June, 1911, and entered the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. He made his letter in athletics for four years, and for three years he was the leading batter on the baseball team. Prof. Fisher graduated from the Naval Academy in June, 1915. During World War I he was in transport service and made 10 round trips to Europe convoying troops. He served on the dreadnought (a battleship armed with six or more guns having calibers of 12 inches or more) U. S. S. New Hampshire for two years and was Executive Engineering Officer for one year. In 1919 Prof. Fisher graduated from the U. S. Submarine School and for the next year was assigned to sea duty on a submarine. He resigned from the navy in 1920 and came to State College as an instructor in the Department of Mathematics. In 1921 Prof. Fisher accepted an offer to be co-principal of the Mount Amoena Seminary at Mount Pleasant; he returned to State College in 1924. In 1927 Fisher received a Master of Science in Physics from State College. He received an honorary doctorate from Lenoir-Rhyne College. He is the author of textbooks in solid geometry and algebra. (Adapted from Alumni News, February, 1940, Fisher folder, UA # 9.3, NC State Archives)

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From The Jacob Fisher Family, 1727-1958, compiled by James L. fisher, Arthur W. Fisher, and Hilbert A. Fisher, 1959, p. 125-127.

11-8 DR. HILBERT ADAM HENDERSON FISHER, b. Jan. 14, 1892, m. June 27, 1916, Ethel Mae Cobb. Children: 11-9: Hilbert Cobb – Emily Margaret.

Dr. John W. Harrelson, Chancellor-Emeritus of North Carolina State college, has this to say about Dr. Fisher:

Dr. Hilbert Adam Fisher is one of the South’s most distinguished educators, has made an outstanding record of achievements in community activities, is a leading figure in intercollegiate athletics, and is a key leader in his church.

Serving with distinction as a member of the North Carolina State college faculty since 1921, Dr. Fisher was appointed Head of the College’s Department of Mathematics on July 1, 1934, a position which he now holds.

He was graduated from Mt. Pleasant Collegiate Institute in 1911; was graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1915, and was graduated from the U. S. Submarine School in 1919. He earned his Master of Science degree from North Carolina State College in 1928 and did graduate study at Duke University from 1928 to 1930. He was awarded the L. L. D. degree by Lenoir Rhyne College in 1940.

Prior to joining the North Carolina State College faculty, Dr. Fisher was a Naval officer from 1915 to 1920 and was assigned to Atlantic transport duty during World War I.

Dr. Fisher is a former President of the Southern Athletic Conference, is Chairman of the Athletic Council at State College, and was Armed Services Coordinator of the College during World War II.

He was a member of the Administrative Council of the Consolidated University of North Carolina from 1928-1934; was a member of the Council of the American Society for Engineering Education 1939-42; was a member of the Executive Committee of the Southern Athletic conference 1942-48; and was President of the Southern conference 1944-1945.

An outstanding layman in the Lutheran Church, Dr. Fisher has been a member of the Executive Committee of the United Lutheran Synod of North Carolina since 1940 and has been a member of the Board of Education of the United Lutheran Church of America since 1950.

His other professional and honorary affiliations include membership in the American mathematical Society, the american Society for Engineering Education, and Phi Kappa Phi, national honorary scholarship society.

Dr. Fisher is the author of textbooks on solid geometry, elementary algebra, and college algebra. He is a leading authority in the science of mathematics and is widely known for his professional achievements.

Dr. Fisher’s associates at north Carolina State college hold him in high esteem, have the greatest respect for his professional judgement, and look to him for guidance and counsel in many matters.

On June 27, 1916, he was married to Ethel Mae Cobb, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Cobb of Guilford County. She was educated in the Guilford County schools, Jefferson Academy, Mt. Amoena Seminary, and the Florence Hunt School of Music.

Dr. and Mrs. Fisher have been active members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Raleigh, N. C., for thirty years.

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Naval Academy obituary, typewritten transcription acquired from Nick McEntire, Instructor of History at Rowan County Community College, via the Hilbert Cobb “H. C.” Fisher family July 2019. 

Hilbert Adam Fisher ’15

Dr. Hilbert Adam Fisher died on 9 September, 1980 in Salisbury, North Carolina near his birthplace. A memorial service was held at Faith Lutheran Church, Faith, N C. and interment was in the historical family plot in this church cemetery near Salisbury.

“Bud” was appointed to the Naval Academy from North Carolina. He was an outstanding baseball player, playing every game all four years, winning the batting medal three years and having a four year average of over .400. This was said to be the highest average at the Academy up until that time.

After graduation he was ordered to the “Rhode Island” for a year and then to the “New Hampshire” for ten round trips of convoy duty to France during World War I.

At the end of the war he was ordered to Submarine School and after that to Key West as Executive Officer of the K-4.

Resigning from the Navy in 1920 he joined the Mathematics Department at N. C. State University. In 1934 he was appointed Head of that Department and also Chairman of the Athletic Council. He also served as president of the Southern Athletic Conference and was instrumental in the forming of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

After World War II he served as Armed Services Coordinator at N. C. State and was in charge of Navy Day activities for the State of North Carolina in 1942. he was on the board of Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock’s Wilmington, N. C. Shipyard and with Adm. E. L. Cochrane, Chief of the Bureau of Ships and old shipmate established one of the Navy’s two diesel engineering schools for Naval Officers at N. C. State.

In the firs weeks of war he set up a Naval Office of Naval Officer Procurement in his Math Department Offices and ran it himself until it was staffed by the Navy months later. Not only hundreds of engineering graduates from N. C. State but many from neighboring Duke and the University of North Carolina were also expedited into the Navy through his personal interest during those early days of the war. To better prepare those still in school he dug out his old Bowditch & Dutton and taught extra curricular courses in navigation – also “How to wear the Uniform and act like a Naval Officer”. He saw to it that the Navy got the best, although the school, as a Land Grant College, has always had a strong Army ROTC Program and ASTP Program, which he coordinated during this same war period.

He was a member of the Administrative Council of the Consolidated University of North Carolina, a member of the Council of the American Society for Engineering Education, The American Mathematical Society, also Phi Kappa Phi. He authored textbooks on solid geometry and college algebra.

He did graduate work in mathematics at the University of Chicago and Duke. He had a Masters in Physics from N. C. State and a LLD from Lenoir-Rhyne College.

A life long Lutheran, he served on the Executive Board of the North Carolina Synod and National Board of Education of The Lutheran Church in America.

His wife, Ethel Cobb Fisher, died in 1966.

His roommate at the Academy and close friend for 70 years Capt. J. Hobart Rockwell was present at the Memorial Service.

Survivors include one son, Hilbert C. Fisher of Winston-Salem, N. C., one daughter, Mrs. C. Herman Mauney of Albuquerque, N. M., one brother, Capt. Edgar Fisher USNR of Laguna Hills, Calif., one sister, Mrs. W. A. Ingram of Salisbury, N. C. and six grandchildren.