John W. Fisher, longtime local civic leader and businessman since the 1940's passed away Sunday, June 28, 2009, at Ball Memorial Hospital following an extended illness.
He was born in Walland, Tennessee, the son of A.J. Fisher and Rachel (Malott) Fisher. Mr. Fisher received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee in 1938. John married Janice Kelsey Ball on August 10, 1940. After two years as a national field secretary for Delta Tau Delta fraternity, he entered the harvard Graduate School of Business Administration and was awarded Honorary Doctor of Law degrees from Ball State University, Butler University, DePauw University, and Indiana University.

John was an honorary director and retired chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ball Corporation and served as chairman emeritus of the Board of Directors. Mr. Fisher joined the company in 1941 as a trainee. Following nine years in various manufacturing assignments, he was named Vice President of Sales. He was elected a Corporate Vice Presidnt in 1963, and was named President and C.E.O. in 1970. Mr. Fisher retired as C.E.O. in 1981 and as Chairmanof the Board in 1986. He served as a Director of Ball Corporation from 1943 to 1986 and continued as a member of the Executive Committee until 1992.

Mr. Fisher was a life director of the National Association of Manufacturers-the voice for American industry- and was past Chairman of the N.A.M. Board.

Mr. Fisher was a Director and past Chairman of Old National Trust Company, Muncie, Indiana; Chairman of CID Capital, Indianapolis, Indiana; Chairman and Director of Kindel Furniture Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Chairman of Pri-Pak in Lawrenceburg, Indiana; Director of Sherry Laboratories, Daleville, Indiana; President of Fisher Properties of Indiana, Inc.; and a partner in Blackwood & Nichols, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and was a Director of Cardinal Ethanol.

He was a past Director of American National Bank, Muncie, Indiana; Indiana Bell Telephone Company; Ransburg Corporation and Stokely-Van Camp, all of Indianapolis, Indiana; Inland Steel Company, Chicago, Illinois; New York Stock Exchange; Grocery Manufacturers of America; and Devon Energy Corporation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Mr. Fisher's community and civic contributions include serving as life Director and past President of the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce.

He was also a past President of the Glass Packaging Institute. He served as Chairman of Cardinal Health System in Muncie, Indiana; a life Trustee of DePauw University; a member of the University of Tennessee Development Council; and Chairman and President of Ball Brothers Foundation. Mr. Fisher also served as Director and President of the Muncie Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club as well as the former Muncie Community Chest. Mr. Fisher served two governors as a member of the Commission for Higher Education, once as Vice Chairman. He was a member of the Governor's Commission on Medical Education and the East Central Indiana Committee on Medical Education. Mr. Fisher was a member of the High Street United Methodist Church in Muncie, Indiana.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Thursday at High Street United Methodist Church, 219 S. High St., Muncie, Indiana. The family will receive friends in the Parish Hall at the church. There will be no calling hours.

The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.

John W. Fisher, longtime local civic leader and businessman since the 1940's passed away Sunday, June 28, 2009, at Ball Memorial Hospital following an extended illness.
He was born in Walland, Tennessee, the son of A.J. Fisher and Rachel (Malott) Fisher. Mr. Fisher received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Tennessee in 1938. John married Janice Kelsey Ball on August 10, 1940. After two years as a national field secretary for Delta Tau Delta fraternity, he entered the harvard Graduate School of Business Administration and was awarded Honorary Doctor of Law degrees from Ball State University, Butler University, DePauw University, and Indiana University.

John was an honorary director and retired chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ball Corporation and served as chairman emeritus of the Board of Directors. Mr. Fisher joined the company in 1941 as a trainee. Following nine years in various manufacturing assignments, he was named Vice President of Sales. He was elected a Corporate Vice Presidnt in 1963, and was named President and C.E.O. in 1970. Mr. Fisher retired as C.E.O. in 1981 and as Chairmanof the Board in 1986. He served as a Director of Ball Corporation from 1943 to 1986 and continued as a member of the Executive Committee until 1992.

Mr. Fisher was a life director of the National Association of Manufacturers-the voice for American industry- and was past Chairman of the N.A.M. Board.

Mr. Fisher was a Director and past Chairman of Old National Trust Company, Muncie, Indiana; Chairman of CID Capital, Indianapolis, Indiana; Chairman and Director of Kindel Furniture Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Chairman of Pri-Pak in Lawrenceburg, Indiana; Director of Sherry Laboratories, Daleville, Indiana; President of Fisher Properties of Indiana, Inc.; and a partner in Blackwood & Nichols, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and was a Director of Cardinal Ethanol.

He was a past Director of American National Bank, Muncie, Indiana; Indiana Bell Telephone Company; Ransburg Corporation and Stokely-Van Camp, all of Indianapolis, Indiana; Inland Steel Company, Chicago, Illinois; New York Stock Exchange; Grocery Manufacturers of America; and Devon Energy Corporation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Mr. Fisher's community and civic contributions include serving as life Director and past President of the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce.

He was also a past President of the Glass Packaging Institute. He served as Chairman of Cardinal Health System in Muncie, Indiana; a life Trustee of DePauw University; a member of the University of Tennessee Development Council; and Chairman and President of Ball Brothers Foundation. Mr. Fisher also served as Director and President of the Muncie Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club as well as the former Muncie Community Chest. Mr. Fisher served two governors as a member of the Commission for Higher Education, once as Vice Chairman. He was a member of the Governor's Commission on Medical Education and the East Central Indiana Committee on Medical Education. Mr. Fisher was a member of the High Street United Methodist Church in Muncie, Indiana.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Thursday at High Street United Methodist Church, 219 S. High St., Muncie, Indiana. The family will receive friends in the Parish Hall at the church. There will be no calling hours.

The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.