This past weekend, I had the opportunity to pay tribute to one of the “founding fathers” of our association – Elmo Fischer.

EdenHill Communities, where Fischer served as the organization's first professional administrator (1961-1968) and and where he spent the last years of his life, had a ceremony where they unveiled a plaque (pictured left) in his honor during their Altenheim Day Celebration (for those who are unfamiliar, Altenheim is the German word for "Elder’s Home" & served as the original name of EdenHill at its conception in 1910).

Residents, staff, and other community members dressed up in 1910 garb and recreated a wagon train procession where farm goods were brought to the EdenHill Chapel (pictured below). Part of the ceremony at the chapel was a salute and thanks to Chaplains, Church affiliations, Administrators/CEOs, Volunteers, Board members, and Donors.

The final salute was given to Elmo Fischer for his contributions to EdenHill and his advancement of senior care in Texas and nationally. In the midst of the community of EdenHill & Elmo Fischer's family who drove in from Houston, I was privileged & honored to say a few words about his legacy at LeadingAge Texas.

While serving as the first full-time executive director of Texas Association of Homes for the Aging (former name of our association) from 1969 through 1973, Fischer established many of the programs and philosophies that still remain as pillars of our association. He established our advocacy program - a primary function of our enterprise; broke the state into regions so that members could meet with their peers in their areas to share stories and best practices (before we actually called it that!); saw the need to protect not-for-profit status in the state and nationally; preached about the need for quality and sufficient regulation in a field where those concepts had not existed; was instrumental in establishing university level training for the field; and he advocated strongly for adequate funding for aging services – something we continue to fight for over 40 years later!

I urge you to read his memoir - a fascinating journey of a man who remained true to his principles and became a foundational figure in our field.

I have an old photograph of Fischer which hangs outside my office - a reminder to thank those who paved a path. I think this is particularly the case in not-for-profits where our organizations outlive most of us (EdenHill has been around since 1910 and it is not our member with the most longevity!).

George Linial, CAE, CASP
President & CEO, LeadingAge Texas

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Photos: 1) photo of a replica of the plaque to honor Elmo Fischer; 2) forefront: Paul Neilson, Chairman of EdenHill's Board of Directors, Janice Howland carrying the pot of potatoes & Don Howland; background (on wagon) members of the honorary Wagon Welcome Committee.