Randy Leisey
Graduating class: 1966
Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2015
Hall of Fame Category: Athlete
Randall Leisey moved to Fairhaven at the start of his freshman year and immediately fit right in to the Fairhaven High School student body and community as a whole. In his years at FHS, Randy was on the football and basketball teams all 4 years and the spring track team for 3 years.
Randy’s football team suffered through three losing seasons until his senior year, when he was chosen as the team’s captain. After losing the first few games of the season, Randy’s team went on to win the next few games (with one tie against a tough Plymouth- Carver team). Randy was selected as the Standard Times player of the week for his win against Barrington and his key role in the come from behind victory. The Standard Times stated, “Leisey scored on a 67 yard TD pass, played a bang up defensive game and did his usual stellar job punting”. FHS and Leisey were able to win the last 2 games of the season, even beating Dartmouth after losing for 8 straight years. It was another come from behind win, securing a winning record (4-3-1) for the first time in 8 years. Randy was selected by the Standard Times for the All-Scholastic Football team, nominated by his coach who stated, “Randy has a way of getting into an opponent’s secondary and he was especially valuable as a pass receiver”. The Taunton Gazette also selected Leisey as a member of the All-Bristol County team and the New Bedford Quarterback club honored him as one of three scholar-athletes at their annual banquet.
In the basketball 1965-1966 season, Randy served as team captain and led his team to an 11-6 overall record, narrowly missing qualifying for the MIAA state tournament. As a third year varsity starter, he led the team in scoring and rebounding and consistently scored double figures. At 6’4”, he was described as a defensive presence in the middle that intimidated the opposition”. In what was described as his “best game of the season”, Randy “poured in 25 points and did a bang up job on the boards” against Bishop Feehan where FHS was able to win 58-46. At the end of the season, Randy was selected by the Anchor Newspaper (Fall River Archdiocese) as a member of the Class A All-Star Basketball Team.
Randall also lettered on the Spring Track team as a junior and senior, excelling in the low hurdles and high jump. These teams were very competitive on the local and state level.
At the FHS Athletics Awards ceremony, Randy was awarded the Principal’s trophy and the Sparrow Cup.
Following graduation, Leisey attended Bucknell University and went on to the Lancaster Theological Seminary. He earned his doctorate in Theology from Drew University in New Jersey. He later retired from the ministry and settled with his wife Beverly in Cody, Wyoming.