Fitzhugh L. Brewer Jr., an Oregon icon, a man who loved Medford as much as Medford loved him, died on Oct. 29, 2009, after a short struggle with cancer. He was 78 years old. At the time of his death, he was a senior vice presi-dent and senior financial advisor with Umpqua Invest-ments, the company formerly known as Strand Atkinson Williams & York. In 1968, he founded the Medford office of the firm, then known as Atkinson & Company, and was a "one-man shop" for nearly 25 years. Over the years, he built a reputation for his expertise in conservative corporate and municipal bonds and in securities, especially local bank stocks and mutual funds. Though recently he would tell people he had retired, he kept his licenses active and was in the office nearly every day, energetically discussing investments and clients' needs with his partners. He preferred the title, customer's man, and took it literally. Fitz was born on May 12, 1931, to Fitzhugh and Drusilla Brewer, who brought "Fitzy" to Medford when he was 6 weeks old. His father was a special agent for the California Oregon Power Company (COPCO), overseeing operations in Southern Oregon and Northern California. His mother operated a kindergarten, whose students Fitz would proudly enumerate, included many who grew up to be among Medford's most prominent citizens. As a student at Medford High School, Fitz was a star defensive end for the Black Tornado. He played in the second-ever Shrine game in 1949 and won a football scholarship to the University of Oregon. It was there he became a member of the Chi Psi fraternity and met his wife of 55 years, the former Ann Ostenson, who survives. After graduating in 1953, Fitz served in Germany during the Korean War as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army artillery. He returned to Oregon to work for Crown Zellerbach, first in Portland and later, "back home" in Medford, selling commercial paper products. During the time he was based in Medford, his territory consistently brought in the biggest numbers in the state, outpacing even the much larger cities to the north. A few years later, he became an independent food broker, traveling throughout Southern Oregon and making lifelong friends with those he called upon. Fitz's service to the community was non-stop. He was co-chairman of the group that raised the funds to build an all-weather track at Spiegelberg Stadium and he actively helped with track projects at both Medford's middle schools and both high schools. He served on the University of Oregon Foundation's board of trustees and was known as the "Super Duck" for his support of the University's various sports teams. He also was on the boards of both the Rogue Valley Medical Center Foundation and the Providence Community Foundation, was an elder in the Presbyterian Church and a longtime member of the Medford Linebackers, the Elks Lodge, the Medford Rotary Club, the Masonic Lodge and the Over-the-Hill Ski Group. He was an enthusiastic skier and tennis player and enjoyed a nine-hole round of golf with friends. He passed on his passion for skiing to others, especially his children, whom he also taught to believe in themselves and to know the importance of education. Known as "Coach" to the younger advisors in his office, he was the model of hard work, integrity and fair play. Fitz was enthusiastically supportive and fiercely loyal to his family, friends, schools and everything that touched him. All who knew him will remember a man of strong convictions, with a heart as big as all outdoors and a booming voice that still echoes in his office, his Rogue Valley Manor home and throughout Oregon. In addition to his wife, Ann, he is survived by his daughters, Libby Combs (Jim) of Happy Valley and Susan Watkins of Medford; twin sons, Tom (Heidi) and Mike (Sheila), both of Beaverton; sister, Donna Hawk (Russ) of Medford; grandchildren, Tricia, Janell and Kariane; Andrea; Megan, Dylan and Charlie; and Donna Dru and Annika; and great- grandchildren Maiya, Delaney and Jaycee. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, in First Presbyterian Church, 85 South Holly Street, in downtown Medford. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to organizations that Fitz named before his death: the Medford Schools Foundation, P.O. Box 1126, Medford, OR 97501; the Duck Athletic Fund, University of Oregon Athletic Department, 2727 Leo Harris Parkway, Eugene, OR 97401; or the Oregon Community Foundation, 1221 S.W. Yamhill St., Suite 100, Portland, OR 97205. As Fitz would say, "Thanks a million, folks!"