Posted by Andrew Fletcher Grisham on April 27, 2014:

William Fletcher Grisham, otherwise known as "Flick", was the oldest son of James Washington Grisham, farmer, livestock trader, garage and grocery store owner in West Point, Mississippi James was called by some residents of West Point the handsomest and fastest horseback rider in Mississippi. All of the Grisham boys were excellent with horses. Fletcher went on to USMA to receive his diploma and degree in Civil Engineering. He was a popular, dashingly handsome young man, and outstanding member of the United States Equestrian Team. He had two horses at the academy, one for Cavalry and one for Polo. Fletcher's photo often appeared in the rotogravure section of the Chattanooga Times. He was very popular with the crowds there. Fletcher would walk his powerful steed up to a high jump, let him observe it, then take a few steps back and easily clear the jump, usually a difficult maneuver without having first gathered momentum to assist in clearing the hurdle. The crowd would go wild. Fletcher was also excellent at polo. One picture in the Times captured him riding his polo pony, named Katella, with all four of Katella's white feet in the air, Flick leaning way over Katella's side to swing his mallet, with the polo ball poised in front of the mallet just before impact. It was a great action shot, and illustrated Fletcher's love of the sport and his superb horsemanship. All of the Grisham siblings were very athletic, even sister Olivia Caroline was an avid player of tennis and golf all her life. Fletcher's mother, Olivia, died in 1925, and his father James in 1929 of appendicitis during the depression. The 2nd oldest son of James Grisham, Albert Harding, upon hearing of the death of his father, left Georgia Tech. school of engineering to return home and care for the family, allowing Fletcher to complete his degree at USMA. In spite of the depression, Fletcher was able to stay to graduate from the USMA. Tragically, Fletcher was killed shortly after his USMA graduation in an accident on a Florida road, following his participation in a U.S. Army demonstration of horsemanship in Miami with the United States Equestrian Team. The army truck he was driving was loaded with horses returning from Florida in heavy fog. Fletcher left his loving brothers, sisters and fiance to grieve his loss. Albert's plan to return to Georgia Tech following Fletcher's graduation was never realized due to the loss of his brother, Fletcher. Graduating from the USMA in 1930, Fletcher was a prominent member of U.S. equestrian team, a Polo player, and 2nd LT TRP F 6 Cavalry. Fletcher's Cavalry and dress swords, spurs, napkin ring, cup, diploma, four USMA annuals, and pictures of him jumping his horse are in possession of Andrew F. Grisham, his namesake. Following is the write-up on Fletcher in his United States Military Academy Senior Annual, "The Howitzer": "One dreamy Sunday afternoon, during "Beast Barracks," the peaceful quiet that so predominates in that place, was rudely broken by the blast of a horn. Investigating, we found young Fletcher and his trumpet; both from the muddy banks of the great "Father of Waters." Grish, besides being somewhat of a musician, has unusual ability as a mechanic. By the end of his Second Class year he had succeeded in solving that intriguing mystery of F. =M.A. His pet ambition is to realize perpetual motion, and he works with everything from mousetraps to door knobs as apparatus. Grish has spent an industrious four years here. The fact that he studied whenever he found it necessary left him little time for Corps Squads, but he was always there with the spirit to back the team. There is little doubt but that he will make a very successful officer. Rifle Marksman, Pistol M

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