Thomas Champe Fitzhugh Jr.

Thomas Champe Fitzhugh, Jr. "Champe", Waco insurance executive, civic leader and educator, died Friday, April 3, 2009, shortly after celebrating his 92nd birthday with his family. Following private family burial at Oakwood Cemetery, a memorial service will be 3 p.m. Monday, April 6, at St. Alban's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Jeff Fisher officiating. The son of T. Champe Fitzhugh and Allyne Hirschfeld, he was born March 14, 1917, in San Antonio. After World War I, the family moved to Waco, where he graduated from Waco High School. Following graduation from Texas A&M in 1938, Champe worked for the Texas Insurance Department and was an Engineering Instructor at the University of Missouri. He married Edna Hosey in 1939, and in 1940, was called to U.S. Army service as an Infantry Lieutenant. After the war, he remained in the reserves and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Following World War II, he returned to Waco, and entered the family insurance business, ultimately becoming Chairman of the Board at Fitzhugh & Co, a 100-year-old business that he sold in 2000. He then established Fitzhugh Insurance & Bonds and was actively involved in this business until his death. Champe was one of only eight men ever to receive the designation of Professional Insurance Man of Texas. In 1992, he received the Drex G. Foreman Award from the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, the highest honor an independent insurance man can receive. As a civic leader, he instigated the vote to return Waco to a city manager form of government in 1947. He was the president of the Waco Independent School Board, Salvation Army Advisory Board, and Waco Council of Campfire Girls when Camp Val Verde was begun. He was also President of the Community Cancer Society, Heart of Texas chapter of the CPCU, the Waco Chapter of the CLU, the Waco Insurance Exchange, Sons of the Republic of Texas (George B. Erath Chapter), Woodland Springs Nursing Home, Waco-McLennan County Former Students of Texas A&M, and Commanders of the Military Order of World Wars. He was vice president of the Waco Junior Chamber of Commerce and was Secretary of the Waco American Red Cross Board. Additionally, Champe was Chairman of the Education Committee for the Waco Chamber of Commerce when McLennan Community College was created and was a past Vestryman and Senior Warden of St. Alban's Episcopal Church. Champe also served as National Chairman of CNA's Insurance Companies Pacer Council and Chairman of the Property Committee of the Independent Insurance Agents in Texas. He also served on the Board of the Waco Girls Club. He was a 10 gallon donor to the American Red Cross Blood Bank, a Docent of the Historic Waco Foundation, on the Advisory Board of the Adopt-a-School Program and a Proctor of Waco Reads. He was a Life Scout and a member of the Order of the Arrow, a 70-year member of J. H. Gurley Masonic Lodge 337 (Chapter #45 and Waco Council #33, the Knights Templar #10) and Karem Shrine. He was a member of the Waco Rotary Club with 18 years of perfect attendance. He belonged to the Sons of the American Revolution. He worked for many years for the United Way of Waco and Storybook Christmas. He was a reading tutor at Bell's Hill School for the last ten years, reading every week to students until he entered the hospital in late March. In 1992 the Texas A&M Champe Fitzhugh International Honors Leadership Program in Castigilion Fiorentino, Italy, was founded in his honor, and over 500 National Merit Scholars have attended this seminar. In 2006, a MCC Fellowship Fund in Insurance was established in his name at McLennan Community College. Champe's insurance designations included Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter, Chartered Life Underwriter, Certified Insurance Counselor, Chartered Financial Consultant, Associate in Risk Management, Associate in Claims, Accredited Advisor of Insurance, Associate in Premium Auditing, and Associate in Fidelity Insurance Bonding. Champe was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Mary Lockwood Fitzhugh; first wife, Edna Hosey Fitzhugh; daughter, Cindy Fitzhugh Harris; granddaughter, Robin Harris; and sister, Meroba Fitzhugh Duncan Beck. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Virginia Mitchell Fitzhugh; his daughters and their spouses, Randy Ford and husband, Glenn and Wendy Crowley and husband, David, all of Fort Worth, and Virginia Blakley and husband, Richard of Denver, Colo.; his sons, Tom Fitzhugh and wife, Jan of Houston, and Bill Smith and partner, Jewel Logan of Dallas; grandchildren, Mike Ford and Katy, Matthew Ford and Janet, Megan Ford Fulbright and Donald, Lee Harris, Kendall Crowley Condit and Brian, Collin Crowley Holz and Jason, Carrie Crowley Fulghum and Bob, Keller Crowley, Champe Fitzhugh IV and Katie, Lindley Fitzhugh Amarantos and Christo, Leigh Smith, Will Blakley and Heidi and Conner Blakley and Molly; 12 great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Honorary pallbearers are Troy Cochrum, Jack Jeffery, Gordon Hill, Dick Taylor, Dr. Charles Herty, Kenneth Jones, Mack Irvin, Garry Miller, Robert Frahm, Doug Smith, John Merkh, Dr. Jeff Tanner and Gene Perry. The family is especially grateful for the years of faithful service of Jamie Irvin. Memorials may be made to Community Cancer Association P.O. Box 5002 Waco, TX 76708, The Champe Fitzhugh Jr. International Honors Leadership Seminar (CFIHLS) at Texas A&M University, MSC, P. O. Drawer J-1, College Station, TX, 77844-9081, the Champe Fitzhugh Jr. Scholarship Fund at the MCC Foundation, 400 College Drive, Waco, TX 76708, Story Book Christmas, PO Box 6088, Waco, TX 76706, or St. Alban's Episcopal Church. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. March 14, 1917 - April 3, 2009 Sign the Guest Book at www.wacotrib.com