December 21, 2023 - On Friday, December 8, 2023, Fairchild, Price, Haley & Smith, LLP hosted a celebration of the 70 year anniversary of the founding of the law firm, the 100-year anniversary of construction of the Eugene Blount House – home for the firm’s Nacogdoches office, and long careers of two of the firm’s attorneys. John Price was honored for his career with the firm spanning over 57 years. Victor Haley was honored for over 40 years with the firm.
The law firm of Fairchild, Price, Haley & Smith, L.L.P. was founded in 1953 in Center as a two-man firm by Robert “Bob” Fairchild and Billy Hunt. Historically, the firm has been actively engaged in the general practice of law concentrating primarily on general, civil and commercial litigation representing both corporations and individual defendants primarily confined within the state of Texas, with some additional practice in other states as cases and clients dictate.
From these beginnings, the law firm has grown with the addition of various partners, associates and excellent staff members. Due to this well channeled growth, they opened an office in Nacogdoches, Texas in March 1994 and Tyler in 2023. Multiple locations enable them to better provide clients with a broad scope of legal services within their areas of practice.
With the insight of the partners and the resources of the firm, they have the ability to handle a diverse spectrum of legal issues, clientele and litigation. The offices are inter-connected and equipped with state-of-the-art technology and computer support systems which expedites information exchange and promotes the competent handling of all files.
The maintenance of skilled attorneys, paralegals and support staff all combine to place the law firm in the position to meet the challenges of the future and remain dedicated to the principles of the past.
"The Blount House" – home for the firm’s Nacogdoches office.
The historic property which is home to the firm’s Nacogdoches office at 1801 North Street is commonly referred to as “The Blount House.” It was constructed in 1923 by the famous architect, Dietrich A.W Rulfs, for Mr. Eugene Harmon Blount on the old home site of Thomas J. Rusk. In fact, one can still see stone remnants of the chimneys and the outside kitchen of the old Thomas J. Rusk home in the yard on the property. Thomas J. Rusk was of great historical significance to the state of Texas. He was a hero of the Battle of San Jacinto, Commander in Chief in the Army in 1836, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1839, President of the Constitutional Convention in 1845 (signing the Declaration of Independence) and became a United States Senator in 1846.
Eugene Blount (born on August 26, 1879) was a prominent businessman and banker in Nacogdoches and helped direct the effort to have Stephen F. Austin State Teachers College (now Stephen F. Austin University) located in Nacogdoches. He was a charter organizer of the East Texas Chamber of Commerce and also a noted orator, especially for his address delivered to commemorate the Battle of San Jacinto. His former home at 1801 North Street has served as the location of the Redeemer Lutheran Church, the original meeting place of Austin Heights Baptist Church, the Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce and now the law offices of Fairchild, Price, Haley & Smith, LLP. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Since becoming associated with the firm in 1966, John Price has been actively involved in the trial of many cases involving insurance litigation of all types in both State and Federal Courts, including, but not limited to, the trial of products liability, premises liability, automobile accidents, medical and legal malpractice and general insurance cases. He is also very active in the firm’s real estate transaction and banking practice. Mr. Price was honored with the Preeminent AV Award, the highest rating awarded by the State Bar of Texas, for his 55+ year practice of law.
Since joining the firm in 1983, Victor Haley has been actively engaged in the trial of all types of insurance cases, including personal injury, automobile accidents, multi-party catastrophic injury and damage cases, products liability, premises liability, medical and legal malpractice, and defense of cities and counties under the Texas Tort Claims Act in both the State and Federal courts. Mr. Haley has handled toxic tort/environmental law, mass tort litigation with fen-phen, silica, rubber, etc., (including benzene, asbestos, silicosis, chemicals and rubber compounds), civil rights and commercial litigation cases throughout Texas.
