Hall Of Fame Inductees

 

The individuals nominated should have made a significant impact or positive influence that assures the future of our industry in the lives of generations to come.

 

Once nominated, an individual’s biography and photo are updated on the site, and he or she is placed in the polls for voting. At the end of the year the committee takes into consideration the votes and decides which candidates are inducted.

 

Those with a star (*) next to their name below were either inducted posthumously or have passed away since being inducted.

 

Nomination Qualifications

  • Person with integrity and passion
  • Minimum 20 years in industry
  • Someone who has developed  or invented  new technology
  • Has made contributions that resulted in change
  • Contributed to mankind’s needs in his field
  • Provided education and encouragement  with self-sacrifice
  • Changed the industry

Roger Fiske *

 

Roger’s family moved from Phoenix to San Lorenzo in late spring of 1952. School was still in session in California and he had already completed his eighth-grade studies. With nothing else to keep him busy, he started a neighborhood lawn mowing service. This business grew during his high school years. After a brief time at San Mateo Community College Roger entered the US Navy in May 1957. By that time his business had grown to 43 garden maintenance accounts. Upon his honorable discharge from active duty in February 1959 he returned to San Lorenzo, regained most of his previous customers, started R.D. Fiske Gardening Service and re-entered San Mateo College.  In the summer of 1959 Roger met Candy and they were married the following year. He entered the University of California in August 1960 to complete studies for a degree in landscape architecture. During his years at Cal, Roger continued his gardening business. He attained his California State Contractors License in 1962 and became a student member of the California Landscape Contractors Association. Following graduation from the University in 1964, with a degree in landscape architecture, he broadened his business to include commercial and residential designbuild projects.

In the ensuing years he took in partners and expanded the business to specialize in public works and commercial landscape installations, and commercial landscape maintenance; at one point employing more than 175 workers.  In 1972, yearning for the creative aspects of design-build projects, Roger decided to make a change, leave his commercial corporation, and start a new business focused on the design and construction of custom residential gardens, which he pursued with Candy until retirement. In 1982 Roger began serving as a consultant and expert in construction defects litigation; most of these cases involved the defense of landscape contractors.

Roger is a California Licensed Landscape Architect and holds California State Contractors Licenses in the following classifcations: General Engineering (A), General Building (B), Landscaping (C27). He is life member in the California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) and past member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), Associated Landscape Contractors Association (ALCA/PLANET) and the Irrigation Association (IA).

After his graduation from Cal, Roger became active in the local chapter of CLCA and was president of the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter in 1967 and 1969. During this time, he was a member of the Chapter Peer Review Committee which investigated license complaints for the Contractors State License Board. He became more and more active in CLCA on a state level serving on many committees; the Education Committee which provided counsel and support for the writing of Landscape Management by James M. Griffn, the Budget and Finance/Ways and Means Committees and the Labor Relations, Licensing and Public Relations Committees. Roger facilitated the establishment of new CLCA chapters within California; North Coast 1971, Central Coast 1973 and San Joaquin Valley 1974. He was instrumental in the formation of the CLT (Certifed Landscape Technician) program and participated in the early CLT feld exams. After years of service on the CLCA Executive Board, Roger was elected President of the Association in 1986.

In 1980 Roger had initiated the formation of an industry-wide committee to develop uniform minimum standards within the California landscape industry. All associations directly or indirectly related to the landscape industry were invited to participate. The California Landscape Standards Committee was founded with more than 100 representatives from over 20 Green Industry related organizations participating, with Roger to serve as Chairman. After years of work, and long awaited, the California Landscape Standards (CLS) was published in 1989.  Roger participated in many industry activities outside of CLCA including: American Institute of Architects (AIA)…Landscape MasterSpec Review Committee; American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)…Director, Northern California Chapter Executive Committee; Associated Landscape Contractors Association (ALCA)…Coordinator, ALCA Field Days Competitions at Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo; California State Legislature… Unoffcial Assembly Advisory Committee on Construction Issues; California Community Colleges…Past Chairman, Agriculture and Natural Resources State Advisory Committee; California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo…Environmental Horticultural Science Department Advisory Council; Contractors State License Board…Chairman, Committee for C27 License Scope and Examination Revision…Regulation Reduction and Classifcation Review Task Force… Task Force to rewrite the scope of the ‘B’ License per Appellate Court directive; Contra Costa Water District…Conservation Advisory Committee; East Bay Municipal Utilities District…Past Chairman, Landscape Advisory Committee; Lindsay Wildlife Museum, Walnut Creek…Board of Directors; Northern California Xeriscape Conference…Committee Member; San Quentin State Prison…Landscape Trade Advisory Committee; San Ramon Valley Community Services District…Citizens Advisory Committee for Parks and Recreation. He also worked on the following publications: General Reviewer for IDG Books Worldwide…Landscaping for Dummies; Technical Editor for Ortho Books...various landscape related publications; Technical Editor for Books That Work...Landscaping Software.

Over his years in CLCA, Roger was honored to receive special recognitions from the association: 1981 Member of the Year, 1987 Executive Directors Award, 1988 Life Membership, 1990 Allegiance Award, 1990 Knight of the Garter and 2013 Half Century Award for his support of the industry he loves. After creating hundreds of gardens and winning many local and state CLCA awards for their projects, Roger and Candy retired from the landscape contracting business in 2007. How lucky to have had the chance to do what they love most…enhance the world we live in, share knowledge and work with, and for, so many wonderful people