(Elizabeth P. Stevenson remembers the character of Champe Fitzhugh, the insurance man. Source: Stevenson, Elizabeth P. and Stevenson, William interviewed by Beck, Rosalie and Robb, Allan P. May 18, 1987- May 26, 1987. Interview 3 pages 77-78. Baylor University Institute for Oral History.)
Founded in 1886 , Fitzhugh & Co. was one of the oldest insurance agencies in the state of Texas and would serve the Waco area for around 114 years, being passed down member to member of the family to which the company owes its name.
Fitzhugh & Co. was first started by Edward Everett Fitzhugh who was the only employee on the payroll for the beginning of the business’ life. The eldest Fitzhugh would turn to family early on as a source of employees for his company. In addition to founding his business, in 1898 Edward Fitzhugh met with 40 other insurance men from various cities in Texas to organize the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, which is today one of the largest state associations of independent insurance agency professionals in the nation. The firm would grow and occupy varying locations throughout its early years but finally found a permanent home in the Amicable Life Building in 1911, becoming the first tenant to occupy space in the building, beating even Amicable Life in having an office in the building. From there, the firm would continue to grow, and with this growth came its development into a true family held business, with T. Champe Fitzhugh, Edward’s son, joining the business and eventually taking over the its management in 1919.
(Fitzhugh & Co. boast a long history with the Alico building. From being the first residents of the building and being the last non-Amicable Life Insurance members of the building to leave in 1983. Photographer: Gildersleeve in 1912, Courtesy of Alico Photo Gallery.)
During this time, one could find advertisements in Waco newspapers for E.E. Fitzhugh & Co. with the message “Strong Companies-Best Service.” It was a bold claim for the company but one that seemed to hold up. As described in a 1964 paper, T. Champe was the only insurance agent that had survived from 1919 up until then. Champe Fitzhugh was active in the community and the industry in which he operated, he became the third president of the IIAT his father had helped found, and even posted columns in newspapers for people with questions regarding insurance. The business showed it could adjust to the times by offering automobile insurance with the increasing amount of cars on the road.
(T. Champe Fitzhugh (center) ran Fitzhugh & Co. following his father’s death in 1919 and ran it until his son bought the firm in 1964. Accessed through Texas Collection cited below.)
Through the dual crises of the great depression and World War II, the firm continued to operate and serve the community. Eventually, T. Champe Fitzhugh’s son, Champe Fitzhugh Jr., returned home from fighting in World War II and became a partner in the firm. It would not take long for Champe Jr. to find himself the Chairman of the Board of the firm, thus continuing the family legacy of the business.
(The data sheet above provides information about Fitzhugh & Co. such as the building it resided in and tracing how it has been passed down. Accessed through Texas Collection cited below.)
The firm continued to serve the Waco area in the way it always had, with great service and competitive policies. They even provided services to Baylor University, presenting the university with insurance maps in the 1960’s. In the year 1983, the firm’s days of operating in the ALICO building had come to an end when American Amicable needed more space in the building for their own operations. It is worth noting however, that in addition to being the first firm in the building, it was the last one not related to American Amicable to leave the building following 73 years of business there. The firm relocated to 2201 Washington Avenue and would continue to service the Waco area with Champe Jr. running the company and emphasizing the value of service to the community by providing help to those who were in need. The company would focus on maintaining its clients, some of which had been with Fitzhugh for 50 years, by continuing to provide the personable service that had made Fitzhugh stand out from the beginning.
(These images are of the 1963 insurance map that Fitzhugh & Co. presented to Baylor. These maps were typically made to asses liabilities in order to help the insurance company and their client. Accessed through Texas Collection cited below.)
In the year 2000, with Champe Jr. at the age of 86, the company was sold to Gary Vanek, known for being COO of National Lloyds Insurance Company. This would bring an end to the family held business tradition stretching back 114 years. While all staff and Fitzhugh himself were allowed to stay on as part of the company, Fitzhugh would go on to form Fitzhugh Insurance & Bonds in 2003 before his death in 2009.
For over a century, Fitzhugh & Co. served businesses and individuals in Waco by providing insurance policies and great customer service. The company reflects a changing Waco as the Fitzhugh’s helped found and lead one of the largest organizations in Texas for insurance agents, showing how in the early twentieth century Waco was poised to be one of the most commercially active cities in the state. And it’s tradition of passing down the family business reflects the spirit of tradition that is alive and well in Waco. Standing for 114 years, Fitzhugh & Co. served Waco faithfully and serves as a time capsule for the changing city.
Sources:
“IIAT Honors Fitzhugh for 60 Years of State Conference Attendance.” Insurance Journal, 23 July 2006, www.insurancejournal.com/magazines/mag-features/2006/07/24/152206.htm.
Parten, Constance. “Fitzhugh & Co. Agency Sells to Former National Lloyds COO.” Insurance Journal, 3 Sept. 2002, www.insurancejournal.com/magazines/mag-features/2000/06/05/22649.htm.
Business History Data Sheet, Waco Tribune Herald articles- Waco, Texas-Business & Industry Fitzhugh & Co., The Texas Collection Baylor University
Photograph of T. Champe Fitzhugh:
Photograph File People: Fernandez-Flanders, Box 147, Folder: Fitzhugh, The Texas Collection Baylor University
Map:
Map of Baylor University area [cartographic material] : Waco, Texas / Fitzhugh & Co., Cubby 7 – 48 Baylor and Waco/Urban Renewal Maps, The Texas Collection, Baylor University
Newspaper References:
The Waco News-Tribune (Waco, Texas), 25 November 1962, Tuesday, Page 23. Accessed with newspapers.com
The Waco News-Tribune (Waco, Texas), 28 April 1920, Tuesday, Page 12. Accessed with newspapers.com