East Texas State University Alumnus Receives Sam B. Hall Civic Service Award

Michael C. Smith, an East Texas trial lawyer from the Marshall office of Siebman, Burg, Phillips & Smith, LLP, was recently honored with the 2016 Sam B. Hall Civic Service Award by East Texas Baptist University. Smith, who graduated from East Texas State University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts, received the award in recognition of his years of civic and community service.

The award is named after the late Judge Sam B. Hall Jr., a former Congressman who served on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Smith spoke about the importance of the rule of law and recounted anecdotes about his own experiences during a dinner and lecture while working as Judge Hall's law clerk in the early 1990s. The main beneficiary of the East Texas Baptist fundraising event is a program that provides scholarships to two graduating seniors at Marshall High School each year.

“It was incredible to work with someone of Judge Hall's caliber and character, and I am very grateful to be recognized by my friends at East Texas Baptist with this honor bearing his name,” said Smith. “Very few of us will ever be able to make the wide-ranging contributions that Judge Hall achieved, but his legacy is an important reminder that we all can do more to help others.”

For over 20 years, Smith has represented clients in complex cases and appeared in over 800 Eastern District matters. He has also chaired the district's Local Rules Advisory Committee for nine years. In his community work, Smith previously served consecutive terms on the Marshall City Commission, and also as president of both the Harrison County Historical Museum and the Marshall Citizens Advisory Committee. Currently, he serves on the Marshall Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.