Mothers Against Drunk Driving present Leadership Award to Richard Fisher

By Allen Leister The Daily World • November 1, 2022 1:30 am
Allen Leister / The Daily World Grays Harbor Deputy Prosecutor Richard Fisher, (holding award) was presented with a Mothers Against Drunk Driving Leadership Award by David Maughan (left of Fisher), at the Grays Harbor Large Commissioners Meeting Room on Thursday, Oct. 27, in Montesano.
Allen Leister / The Daily World Grays Harbor Deputy Prosecutor Richard Fisher, (holding award) was presented with a Mothers Against Drunk Driving Leadership Award by David Maughan (left of Fisher), at the Grays Harbor Large Commissioners Meeting Room on Thursday, Oct. 27, in Montesano.

Alcohol is a leading cause of traffic fatalities. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drinking and driving kills 28 people every day in the U.S., which is about one person every 52 minutes. Drunk driving accidents also account for a third of all traffic-related deaths in America.

While many people have been affected or know someone who has been affected by drinking and driving, many coalitions and organizations exist to combat the issue. For one organization, the chance to recognize someone for the work they do to combat drinking and driving appeared in Grays Harbor last week.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) awarded Richard Fisher a Leadership Award on Thursday, Oct. 27. The award, which was for “Excellence in reducing DUIs,” is one of the multiple types of awards that MADD recognizes individuals for every year.

Fisher, who serves as a deputy prosecuting attorney for the Grays Harbor Prosecutor’s Office, was grateful and humble in his acceptance of the award.

“I’m just trying to do my job, but it means a lot. I appreciate what Mothers Against Drunk Driving has done,” Fisher said. “I love the law and I always just wanted to help and protect people.”

Fisher said he served five years in the Navy before working as a prosecutor for King County and eventually joining the Grays Harbor Prosecutor’s Office in July 2021. He said his passion for justice guided him to the law field when he completed his military service.

In attendance to present the award was Dennis Maughan, the Pacific Northwest regional executive director for MADD. Maughan, who oversees all MADD activity in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska, said he received a glowing recommendation of Fisher from the Prosecutor’s Office seeking to nominate him for an award.

“I sent the nomination to the national committee for MADD, and they really loved it,” Maughan said.

Maughan said Leadership Awards are important to recognize individuals who are working hard to put an end to the dangers that exist with drunk driving, something Maughan said is increasing.

“Nationally we had 10,000 people that died last year and 338,000 people who were injured. 2022 looks like it’s going to surpass 2021 with the numbers we’re seeing,” Maughan said. “Some people say that the rise is tied to the pandemic restrictions being loosened which caused more people to get out and drive. Others say that it’s due to changes in the law. Either way, the increase isn’t good.”

According to NHTSA, drinking and driving racks up more than $44 billion in deaths and damages annually.