81R23690 BPG-D
By: Anderson H.R. No. 1514
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A generous and productive life drew to a close with
the death of Waco civic leader Thomas Champe Fitzhugh, Jr., on April
3, 2009, at the age of 92; and
WHEREAS, Champe Fitzhugh was born in San Antonio on March 14,
1917, and moved to Waco with his family after the first World War;
he graduated from Texas A&M University and worked for the Texas
Insurance Department and as an engineering instructor at the
University of Missouri; he married the former Edna Hosey in 1939,
and the couple shared a rewarding relationship until her passing;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Fitzhugh served his country in the United States
Army during World War II and remained in the reserves until his
retirement as a lieutenant colonel; after the war, he joined the
family business, Fitzhugh & Company, eventually becoming chairman
of the board and earning great distinction in the independent
insurance industry; his many leadership roles included chairing
PACER, the national agency advisory council of CNA, and the
property committee of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas; in
addition, he served on a variety of other committees and on the
board of IIAT, which gave him its highest honor, the Drex Foreman
Award; he was one of only eight men to receive the designation
Professional Insurance Man of Texas; and
WHEREAS, In 2000, Mr. Fitzhugh sold the company and, at the
age of 86, founded Fitzhugh Insurance & Bonds, where he typically
worked from 7:30 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m.; he did keep shorter hours on
Tuesdays during the school year, when he tutored elementary
students in reading; he also assisted Storybook Christmas, a
program providing free books to children in need; moreover, he
chaired the education committee of the Waco Chamber of Commerce and
served on the study committee that recommended the establishment of
McLennan Community College, and through the years he funded
scholarships and books for many MCC students; in 2007, the
Independent Insurance Agents of Central Texas created an MCC
Foundation scholarship in his honor; since 1992, more than 500
National Merit Scholars at Texas A&M have attended the Champe
Fitzhugh International Honors Leadership Program in Italy; and
WHEREAS, This dynamic Texan served as president of the Waco
Independent School District Board, the Salvation Army Advisory
Board, the Waco Council of Campfire Girls, the Community Cancer
Society, and of a number of other organizations; among his myriad
contributions to the community, he served as vice president of the
Waco Junior Chamber of Commerce and as secretary for the board of
the Waco chapter of the American Red Cross, and in 1947, he
instigated the vote to return Waco to a city manager form of
government; and
WHEREAS, A 70-year member of J. H. Gurley Masonic Lodge No.
337 and Karem Shrine, Mr. Fitzhugh belonged to the Rotary Club and
Sons of the American Revolution, was a docent of the Historic Waco
Foundation, and served his place of worship, St. Alban's Episcopal
Church, in several capacities; while fulfilling innumerable
responsibilities, he still found time to develop his talent as a
gardener and to show his love for his family through regular phone
calls and letters; his warmth, kindness, and delightful sense of
humor endeared him to everyone; and
WHEREAS, Champe Fitzhugh touched countless lives through his
selfless endeavors, and his memory will forever remain in the
hearts of all who were fortunate enough to know this remarkable man;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Champe Fitzhugh, Jr.,
and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his
wife of 39 years, Virginia Fitzhugh; to his daughters, Randy Ford
and her husband, Glenn, Wendy Crowley and her husband, David,
Virginia Blakley and her husband, Richard; to his sons, Tom
Fitzhugh and his wife, Jan, and Bill Smith and his partner, Jewel
Logan; to his grandchildren, Mike Ford and his wife, Katy, Matthew
Ford and his wife, Janet, Megan Fulbright and her husband, Donald,
Lee Harris, Kendall Condit and her husband, Brian, Collin Holz and
her husband, Jason, Carrie Fulghum and her husband, Bob, Keller
Crowley, Champe Fitzhugh IV and his wife, Katie, Lindley Amarantos
and her husband, Christo, Leigh Smith, Will Blakley and his wife,
Heidi, and Conner Blakley and his wife, Molly; to his 12
great-grandchildren and his 4 great-great-grandchildren; and to
his other relatives and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Thomas
Champe Fitzhugh, Jr.