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Michael M. Van Buskirk "Dick Fitton graduated from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Economic Sciences in 1950. While in college, he was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, and through the years, stayed in touch with many fraternity brothers. Dick was in continuous contact with the leadership of the college, and was also actively involved with the programs in the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, and Ohio State University Extension. He often commented about how a small amount for agriculture research returned a phenomenal amount of money for Ohioans through the sale of better quality, more efficiently produced and safer food products. He had good relationships with many of the leaders at the University, including former Vice President Roy Kottman, Presidents Gee, Kirwan, and Holcomb, Senior Associate Dean L.H. Newcomb, Vice President Jerry May, and Development Director Linda Heyl and with me. Dick established the Richard J. Fitton Leadership Fund in 1995, which supports the Alpha Zeta Partners Leadership Program. He believed in the programs and what it provided students in the college. In the program brochure he was quoted as saying, "The need for well-trained leadership to push forward the emerging agriculture and natural resources agenda in the coming decades is a priority for human capital needs of our industry. Through the structured experiences provided in the Alpha Zeta Partners Leadership Program, we can develop in current students the leadership traits to provide understanding and foresight of current and future issues affecting our industry as well as society in general. I support this initiative now and for the future benefits it will provide to all of our lives." As a result of the support that Dick gave to students, and the interest that he showed in the leadership programs, Dick was presented with the "Meritorious Service to Agriculture Students Award" by President Gordon Gee in 1997. In addition to the Richard J. Fitton Leadership Fund, Dick supported numerous other areas in agriculture and across the campus. Some of these include: Athletic Advancement Fund, Butler County Extension Programs, The Ohio 4-H Foundation, and 4-H Center, the John Glenn Institute. And he gave to scholarships in honor of friends and faculty including Roy Kottman, Elizabeth Gee, Francis McCormick, Frances Brundige, Jean Hansford, Novice Fawcett, Bob Watkins, and Ralph Bazler. Finally, always, each year, Dick gave support to my Vice President for Agricultural Administration Fund to help build a foundation under the college for future years. He gave to the endowment, which will last forever. He knew a good banker must care about the economic and social health of the community. A great banker makes them his personal commitment. Dick Fitton defined banking for himself in those terms. He spent a lifetime helping others in a city and a region he loved. He never sought recognition. Nevertheless, his peers came to know and value his banking ability, his intelligence, and his commitment to community service. They named him Ohio Banker of the Year in 1992. They also valued, and will sorely miss, his wit, kindness and quick smile."
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