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Our History
“If you do what is best for the customer, the dollars will take care of themselves.”
-John I. Welch, co-founder, Wallace Welch & Willingham, Inc.
Wallace Welch & Willingham: A History of Customer Focus
It’s been over 80 years since the agencies that would one day become Wallace Welch & Willingham opened their doors in St. Petersburg, FL. We continue to add to our long tradition of client-focused insurance solutions.
The Beginning (1925-1950)
The catalyst for the company that today is Wallace Welch & Willingham was an agency contract between
John P. Welch and the St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company.During this time period:
• 1925 - John B. Wallace opened an agency in St. Petersburg.
• 1926 - Weyman T. Willingham, Sr. opened an agency location as well.
The Three “W’s” Grow Individually (1950-1952)
These years were marked by steady growth – and war. William Wallace joined his father’s agency in 1950 but was soon drafted into the military. He returned to the company in 1952. Total gross sales were $150,000.
From Competitors to Partners – A New Age (1952-1966)
The young successors, William Wallace and John I. Welch, had the foresight to imagine even greater success. A merger was their idea, and the Wallace-Welch agency ushered in a new age of burgeoning growth.
1964
• Stan Shaver, Jr. left the John B. Green Agency to join the John P. Welch Agency
• Wallace Welch Insurance, Inc. purchased the accounts of the Tiedman Agency.
• The Bennett and Wallace-Welch agencies joined to acquire equal shares of the Green Agency and appointed Stan Shaver as President.
1968 - New Names and Acquisitions
Prosperity continued, and 1968 brought with it an addition to the company letterhead. The consolidation of the Bennett Agency, Wallace-Welch and the John B Green Agency became Bennett Wallace Welch & Green Insurance Inc. with James Newton as president. Bill Wallace became president following Jim Newton's retirement in 1974. Acquisitions following the consolidation included:
• Bourne Agency
• John Phillips Agency
• Van Dyke Agency
During the 1970s the Weyman Willingham Agency also expanded through acquisitions and became Weyman Willingham & Associates with Weyman Willingham as president. Acquisitions included:
• Earl W. Day & Associates
• Standard Underwriters
• EE Arnold Insurance
• Walter Collins Insurance
• The Federal Insurance Agency
Company growth prompted the building of a new facility for Bennett Wallace Welch & Green at 2200 16th Street North in St. Petersburg in 1980.
1984 - The Name We Know Today:
“Wallace Welch & Willingham”
Wallace Welch & Willingham Inc. was formed in 1984
simultaneously with the acquisition of Stambaugh and
Associates. Bob Stambaugh became its new CEO.
This event prompted a move to new headquarters in
St. Petersburg at 3810 16th Street North. By 1986,
everyone had relocated, and employees were looking
forward to what promised to be unending success.
1989 - 2001 Retirement and Change
Stan Shaver, Bill Wallace, Bob Stambaugh and John I. Welch all retired during this time period. However,
their leadership still infuses our company today, and their example as distinguished insurance professionals
continues to inspire our employees to follow in their footsteps.
Yvonne Wiseley merged Wiseley Marine with Wallace Welch & Willingham in 2001.
Compliance Check became an instant success in 1999 when it was developed for in-house use. It's
creator, Don Brown, took it to a new level in 2001 and marketed it to select agencies in all 50 states.
Wallace Welch & Willingham moved to the fifth floor of the SunTrust Building in St. Petersburg, located
at 300 1st Avenue South in 2001.
The Next Generation of Wallace Welch & Willingham
2002 and Beyond
This is the agency as you know it today, with Keith and Scott Gramling as President and CEO. As 2008 approaches with its inevitable opportunities, Wallace Welch & Willingham remains one of the largest employee-owned insurance agencies in the nation. With value-added tools like Compliance Check and the ever-continuing education of employees through WWW University, the organization’s goal remains the same as it was over 85 years ago: to offer the highest level of service delivery possible to clients.
Major changes in leadership during this time period included the following:
• Weyman Willingham became President and CEO in 2003.
• Weyman Willingham became Chairman of the Board in 2004.
• Stanley B. Shreve became COO in 2004.
• Keith W. Gramling became President in 2004.
• Scott B. Gramling became CEO in 2004.
• Stanley B. Shreve retired in 2006 after 20 years of service.
• Yvonne Wiseley retired in 2007.
Visit this link often to discover the latest developments at Wallace Welch & Willingham, Inc.
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