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UW remembers Regent Ody Fish

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Also by Kristin Stange:

Scientist under fire over ethics (March 28, 2007)
Economic study results 'troubling' (February 26, 2007)
UW remembers Regent Ody Fish (February 8, 2007)

by Kristin Stange

Thursday, February 8, 2007

Former University of Wisconsin System Regent and Republican Party activist Ody Fish died early Tuesday from complications due to cancer.

Fish's political involvement included serving on the executive committee of the National Republican Committee from 1971-1984 and as chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party from 1965-1970.

Additionally, Fish served on the UW Board of Regents from 1970-1987.

Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, worked with Fish in CCW and told The Badger Herald Wednesday that during his career, Fish tied for the longest tenure on the Board of Regents.

In his 17 years on the Board, Heck said Fish spent time bridging the gap between education and politics.

"He was just one of those people who transcended politics and wanted to clean up the dishonesty involved," Heck said. "He cared a lot about the UW System; … he wanted to give UW a fair share and not compete for political money."

UW System spokesperson Kate Dixon said Fish served as a regent during a time of transition for higher education in Wisconsin.

"[Fish] served his first term on the Board of Regents when the UW System was first forming and wrote the legislation to make that happen," Dixon said.

Dixon also said Fish was one of the main contributors to developing the UW System and helped make it what it has become today. With Fish's help, the system is now a standard of excellence in education and a chain of institutions unlike any other in the country, Dixon added.

"We'll never see anyone like him again," Heck said.

Fish is survived by his wife and daughters, who released a statement to The Associated Press Tuesday.

"It meant so much to us to see the comfort he received in knowing the positive impacts he had on so many people," the family wrote in the statement.

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