Judge F.W. Fischer

by Joe Leonard

In the late 1940's Judge F. W. Fischer and his wife moved their membership letter from a Tyler, Texas parish to St. Paul's in Gainesville.  He was a prominent lawyer and oil producer in east Texas and had purchased a 3,000 acre ranch in Cooke County, just a few miles southwest of Era, where they built a large two-story mansion to make their home. It was not certain that he was ever a judicial judge, but by reputation in the legal profession he was so honored.  In addition he was prominent in the Republican party and in the 1930's had run an unsuccessful race for Governor of Texas.

Both he and his wife became active members of St. Paul's.  It was not many months before he was elected or appointed to official positions in the church, and moved rapidly to the post of Senior Warden.  He was very business-like, sharp, demanding, and witty. He had served as Senior Warden in former churches.

It was at his first official meeting as Senior Warden in the early fifties when the agenda was being discussed, and evidently saw for the first time an item concerning the need for a new roof on the building.  It was this response that made him forever remembered by his fellow members: "I have been a member of many churches in my life, some large, some small, but the first thing I hear when I become Senior Warden is that we need a damned new roof on the place."

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