POST GRAD
BY KATIE LIESEN, MEDIA CONTENT SPECIALIST As a young kid growing up in rural Illinois, Tim Fischer ’89 dreamed of big things. After years of working in corporate America, living all over the United States, traveling the world, having an office in Times Square and ringing the closing bell at Nasdaq, his life has been anything but ordinary. From a small town boy to a corporate executive, Fischer credits Culver-Stockton College for helping shape him into the man he is today. Fischer graduated from Pittsfield High School, about 45 minutes southeast of Quincy and says that he wouldn’t have wanted to grow up anywhere else. Growing up, he enjoyed playing basketball and dreamed of playing for the Boston Celtics. After high school, Fischer was recruited by many schools around the country but was determined to use basketball to allow him to get a great education. He was recruited by the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and decided to pursue this opportunity although he knew it was highly competitive to get into the academy. However, he was thrilled when he received the 27 Chronicle, Summer 2018
Congressional Nomination from Dick Durbin, a U.S. Senator representing Illinois. Fischer quickly realized the Air Force Academy was not a “normal” college. His priorities on a daily basis were: military training, academics and Division 1 basketball…in that order. Spending 11 weeks in basic training, then waking up at 5 a.m. every morning for the first year to clean the toilets, getting yelled at non-stop and living the life of a first-year cadet was definitely a learning experience. Fischer was challenged from a mental and physical standpoint on a daily basis, and although he was only 17 when he entered the academy, he grew up quickly. After attending the academy for two years, Fischer had to make the decision to stay and finish his final two years (plus serve seven years active duty) or leave and pursue a different path. Standing 6 foot 7 and having terrible eyesight ruled out being a pilot. Because he didn’t fit in a plane and couldn’t see, he looked at his other options and decided to leave the academy after putting up with