Rhae Swisher

Dr. Rhae Martin Swisher, Jr., age 89, of Troy, Alabama, died Monday, December 27, 2010.

A memorial service for Swisher will be held at Troy First United Methodist Church, on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011, at 2:00 p.m., with Reverend David McVay, Dr. Clifford Eubanks, and Rhae Swisher, III, officiating.  Visitation will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the church Round Room.  He will be laid to rest in the Green Hills Memorial Mausoleum following the service.

Swisher was gracious with his time in serving his community.  He served on the Troy Housing Authority and the Troy Housing Services Corporation.  During his years in Troy he was president of Rotary Club, the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, and Pike County Habitat for Humanity.  He was passionate about his participation in the First United Methodist Church in Troy.

In addition to dedication to his community, Swisher had a love of teaching.  He received a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Indiana University.  After his service in World War II, he attended the IU School of Law and graduated with a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree.  His first teaching employment was with the Indiana University School of Business.

During World War II, he served his country honorably for four years in the U.S. Navy as the supply officer on a destroyer in the South Pacific.

Swisher left the field of education for 15 years and became the Employment Supervisor and then a contract administrator with Westinghouse Corporation in Baltimore, Maryland.  He was later in charge of contract administration at Electronic Communications Incorporated in Florida and served as Vice President of Contract Administration at ITT in Chicago, Illinois, working on military contracts.

At that point Swisher returned to a teaching career at Kansas State University, where he was also president of the Faculty Senate.  He served as Vice-President of Finance at Simpson College in Iowa before becoming Assistant Dean and then Dean of the School of Business at Troy State University.

Swisher was preceded in death by two granddaughters, Beth and Heather Kimes.  He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Barbara Burns Swisher; one son, Rhae Martin Swisher, III; two daughters, Karen Swisher (Joe Grinstead) and Deborah Boehm (Jim); one brother, Charles L. Swisher (Mary Ann); five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the Swisher family asks that donations be made to the First United Methodist Church or the Troy City Library Building Fund. Family and friends can sign the guest book on our website at www.greenhillsfuneralhome.net .  Green Hills Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Dr. Rhae Martin Swisher, Jr.