Historic Walker County
An illustrated history of the city of Huntsville, Texas, and the Walker County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
An illustrated history of the city of Huntsville, Texas, and the Walker County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
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SMITHER, MARTIN,<br />
HENDERSON &<br />
BLAZEK, P.C.<br />
In 1919, Eugene R. Berry opened a law office<br />
on the north side of Huntsville’s downtown<br />
square. Known today as Smither, Martin,<br />
Henderson & Blazek, P.C., five attorneys<br />
continue the general practice of law, including<br />
family, civil and criminal litigation, real estate,<br />
probate, juvenile, and oil and gas.<br />
Robert B. Smither (1906-1996) became<br />
Berry’s law partner in 1936, forming the firm<br />
of Berry and Smither. They continued that<br />
association until Berry’s death in 1968. In 1970,<br />
Lloyd C. Martin, a former member of the Texas<br />
House of Representatives, joined the firm. After<br />
serving in the Legislature, he was an Assistant<br />
Attorney General and TRA attorney who was<br />
instrumental in the creation of Lake Livingston.<br />
Former <strong>Walker</strong> <strong>County</strong> Attorney and Court at<br />
Law Judge Joe B. Henderson, Jr., was added to<br />
the firm as a partner in 1980. Former Criminal<br />
District Attorney Frank Blazek joined the firm<br />
in 1991. Huntsville native and Municipal Court<br />
Judge John R. Gaines and Nicholas C. Beaty,<br />
a 2001 graduate of Huntsville High School,<br />
are currently associates with the firm. Martin<br />
and Blazek are Board certified in the areas of<br />
real estate and criminal law respectively.<br />
Henderson has represented the <strong>Walker</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
Hospital District since 1981, as well as other<br />
public entities in <strong>Walker</strong> and surrounding<br />
counties. Both Martin and Henderson, as<br />
active owners and officers, continue the<br />
firm’s long relationship with <strong>Walker</strong> <strong>County</strong><br />
Title Company. The firm’s staff includes three<br />
legal assistants and two office assistants.<br />
A number of young attorneys who have<br />
subsequently become successful in public<br />
service have been associated with and trained<br />
by the firm. Among them are Texas Board of<br />
Pardons & Paroles member Thomas Leeper,<br />
State District Judge Elizabeth Coker and former<br />
Madison <strong>County</strong> Criminal District Attorney<br />
William Bennett.<br />
The office is now located in the historic Gabe<br />
Smither home at 1414 Eleventh Street. The firm<br />
continues a long history of providing quality<br />
legal services in the general practice of law.<br />
8 0 ✦ H I S T O R I C W A L K E R C O U N T Y
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