Former North Las Vegas Municipal Judge Fisher dies

Friday, May 23, 2003 | 11:30 a.m.

Herman Fisher knew the highest of life's highs as a Las Vegas High School football and track star and as a local attorney and judge.

And he knew the lowest of life's lows, convicted of drunken driving and later disbarred from the profession he cherished.

But, in the end, through perseverance, his family said he found inner peace and sobriety for the last two decades of his colorful life.

Herman E. Fisher Jr., who from the late 1950s through the 1960s served as a North Las Vegas Municipal judge and then as justice of the peace, died Sunday of lung cancer at Nathan Adelson Hospice. He was 73.

A memorial service for the Las Vegas resident of 65 years will be 3 p.m. Saturday in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St.

"He had reached such heights so young, being a judge by his late 20s," said one of his two sons, Greg Fisher of Las Vegas. "He was a success athletically, academically and professionally. And even though he fell so far, he put it all behind him and was never bitter about it."

As a sophomore at Las Vegas High in 1944, "Squirmin' Herman" Fisher was a star halfback and defensive back on the undefeated, untied and unscored-upon Wildcat football squad that won the state title. He also was a track star.

A Marine Corps veteran and a graduate of Georgetown University Law School, Fisher was elected North Las Vegas Municipal Court judge in 1957.

After leaving the bench, Fisher got into trouble with the law. He was involved in an April 25, 1973, auto accident and was found guilty of misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol. He was fined $250 and sent to alcohol rehabilitation classes, but stopped after just one session.

In October 1973, Fisher was arrested for failing to appear in court to defend a man charged with cheating at gambling. Fisher later was disbarred.

Fisher eventually quit both cigarettes and drinking and was sober for 21 years until his death, his family said. During that time, he occasionally did research work to help attorneys prepare their cases, but never sought to be reinstated as an attorney.