Mr. James Edward Fischer
Class of 1939

James Edward Fischer moved to Houston at the age of 10 after previously living in San Antonio and Austin. The Fischers established residence on Austinn Street near downtown Houston across the street from St. Thomas College. Jim would visit with the priests daily while they were exercising on the school playground. He became an altar boy for the six o'clock mass as a result of his association with Father John O'Loane, C.S.B., the principal of the school. Jim was such an efficient altar boy that her served mass on two alters that were side by side at the same time.

Jim Fischer entered St. Thomas in 1935 and graduated in 1939. Following graduation he joined the U.S. Army and spent six years serving his country. During his enlistment he learned a great deal about the mechanical working of vehicles by working on heavy trucks and equipment. Following his Army days Jim returned to Houston and begann his career in the automobil parts business at the Jos. F. meyer Company on Franklin Ave. In 1947 he married Dorathy Roberts and this union was blessed with fourteen children.

By 1956, after working for two other auto parts companies, Jim and Dan parted company for a short period of time and it was at this time Hi-Lo Auto Supply came into existence. In 1963 Jim and Dan became partners again. At this time Jim also established Fischer Auto Parts as a separate operation.

In early 1968 Dorothy and Jim purchased a new home large enough to accomodate them and their fourteen children. It was that same year Dorothy passed away from a rare liver condition. Jim later married Theresa Dally, the widow of John Dalay who graduated from St. Thomas in 1948. Theresa had three daughters. The two families integrated well and the auto parts business continued to expand. in 1981, Jim sold his interest in Hi-Lo Auto Supply and in 1989 sold Fischer Auto Parts to Hi-Lo and retired from the business.

His retirement years have been filled with staying lose to his and Theresa's seventeen children, thirty-six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. in between his four weekly tennis games, Jim has found time to serve as a director of Klein Bankshares, John Paul II School and as a trustee of the St. Thomas High School Foundation.

Jim's two brother, Jack '41, who passed away in 1995 and Charles '47 graduated from St. thomas. Five of the Fischer sons John '66, James '71, Stephen '77, Gary '78, and David '86 and three grandsons Kenneth Fischer '98, michael Weatherly '97 and Richard Weatherly '98 graduated from St. Thomas.