Charles William Fish was born in Dayton, Ohio on December 27, 1925. Following his service in the U.S. Army as a Staff Sergeant (1945-47), he obtained his BS in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati (1952). Fish then served the U.S. Air Force Reserves as a 2nd Lieutenant (1952-55).
Thereafter, Charles found work in Riverside and Redlands before joining architect Stanley Clarke Meston’s firm in Fontana. Meston's office was small - comprised of himself, secretary Sara Arhlent and draftsman Jack Sparks. Fish worked in Meston's office for 4.5 years -- a span of time which included the design of the very first McDonald’s restaurant in Phoenix (1952).
Charles Fish began working with James Bird as early as 1959 after moving to San Diego. Fish began working with James Wright Bird as early as 1959 -- with whom he would later established the firm Bird, Fujimoto & Fish (1967). During Charles’ career he designed six private residences, one of which was not built.
Partial List of Projects
Bachelor Officers' Quarters (1969)
San Diego
*Bird, Fujimoto & Fish
Fifth Avenue Financial Center (1965)
2550 Fifth Avenue
*Bird, Fujimoto & Fish
Hipodromo-Galgodromo (1966)
Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
*Bird, Fujimoto & Fish
McDonalds Restaurant (1952)
Phoenix, AZ
National City Civic Center (1967)
National City
*Bird, Fujimoto & Fish
Palomar Mt. Camp & Camp Cuyamaca (1969)
Palomar Mountain - San Diego County
*Bird, Fujimoto & Fish
Private Residences (dates unknown)
Six homes designed in unknown locations
Westgate Plaza Hotel (ca. 1970)
1055 2nd Avenue
*Bird, Fujimoto & Fish
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