[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 123 (Friday, August 1, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ON THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST AMERICAN FINANCIAL CORPORATION

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                          HON. EDWARD R. ROYCE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 1, 2014

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 125th 
anniversary of the First American Financial Corporation, and to use 
this occasion to honor the pioneering role that First American has 
played in developing the title insurance industry in the United States.
  First American was founded in my home district of Orange County, CA 
in 1889, not long after the then-rural County was itself founded. First 
American grew from a small, local company into an international 
provider of title insurance, settlement services and risk solutions for 
real estate transactions. The company now provides a job to over 11,000 
hardworking Americans.
  Though it is a multinational corporation, First American has never 
lost sight of its roots as a closely held family business. Founder C.E. 
Parker instilled into the company a spirit of entrepreneurship and a 
commitment to service--core values that still steer First American 
today. Mr. Parker's grandson and Chairman Emeritus Don Kennedy joined 
the family business in 1948 after attending law school and serving in 
the U.S. Navy during the Second World War. Under his leadership, First 
American expanded into surrounding counties, and acquired a trust 
company, a home warranty provider, and a real estate tax service firm 
into its portfolio of services. In 1964 he took the company public. 
Eighteen years later, First American was serving every region of the 
country. Don Kennedy's son, Parker Kennedy, like his father and great-
grandfather before him, is now the company's Chairman of the Board, and 
is leading the company as it continues to grow.
  The Kennedy family has navigated uncertain times over the past 
century due to the rise of homeownership, technological developments in 
the field, and shifting regulation both in the U.S. and abroad. Yet by 
maintaining their commitment to the founding principles of their family 
business, the Kennedy family grew their small company in southern 
California into a multinational Fortune 500 company.
  First American revolutionized the way title insurance is used across 
the globe as it pioneered the industry in a number of countries. First 
American was the first title insurance provider in Mexico, Korea, and 
Hong Kong, and it has the leading market share in Australia, Canada, 
and England. The company innovated the world's first international 
title insurance policy, and has worked with government officials in 
developing nations to create legislation that protects landowner rights 
and secures a stronger local economy.
  Title insurance is a foundational component of the real estate 
industry, and by making sure a homebuyer gets what he bargained for, 
the First American Financial Corporation paved the way for homeowners 
across this nation to live out the American Dream. It is a company that 
all Americans--indeed, all people--can choose to be their financial 
partner.
  I congratulate First American Financial Corporation on 125 years of 
service, and for supporting the homeowners and business communities in 
the U.S. and abroad.

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