- 2018 Business Inductee -
Post Insurance, Inc.
by Mona Hoisington
The Independent Insurance Agency, Post Insurance, Inc., had its beginning in 1939 when Henry L. Post of Paradise, Kansas contracted with Midwest Life Insurance Company of Lincoln, Nebraska to market Life, Health and Accident Insurance through the Bruce Rogers General Agency of Hays, Kansas and, at the same time, to solicit Fire & Casualty insurance through the John J. Smith Agency of Natoma, Kansas.
In 1942 Mr. Post purchased the John J. Smith Agency and began to operate as H. L. Post Insurance Service. With the purchase of the Smith Agency, he acquired contracts with Alliance Companies, Preferred Fire Company and Iowa Home Mutual Casualty.
Shortly thereafter, he purchased the Everett Fritts Agency at the Paradise State Bank, acquiring a contract with National Fire Insurance of Hartford. To enable him to write oilfield accounts, contracts were negotiated with Employers Mutual Casualty and Standard Insurance of Tulsa. Wheatgrowers Mutual Hail Insurance Company was added for crop hail policies.
In 1955 the C.W. Ewing Agency was purchased and, at about the same time, arrangements were made to service D.C. Worden’s accounts in the Woodston, Kansas area, retaining Mr. Worden’s services as a solicitor. When Mr. Worden’s health required his total retirement Lawrence Cordill, also of the Woodston area, was appointed to replace him.
In 1955 Garnett Angel of Paradise began as part-time clerical help. She became a full-time licensed agent to help with the hail storm of 1968. She later added income tax accounting to the list of services provided.
In 1962 the Caruthers Insurance Agency of Waldo, Kansas was purchased, adding The Hartford Group to the growing list of companies now represented by Post Insurance. A merger was effected with Four Corners Agency of Natoma, operated by Gerald Norris. This change added Great Plains Mutual of Salina. Shortly thereafter, contracts were signed with Taylor & Company of Topeka, Continental Western Group of Des Moines and Marysville Mutual Insurance Company.
Recognizing the hazards incident to a sole proprietorship it was decided to incorporate the agency in 1968 and thus insure its perpetuity in spite of mortality. The corporation was formed with Henry L. Post, Vera E. Post and Garnett Angel.
In 1970 the Posts sold a block of their stock to John & Garnett Angel, giving them controlling interest. With this change of control Garnett Angel was designated as Agency Manager with John Angel, Lawrence Cordill, Gerald Norris and Vera Post as licensed personnel. The agency was moved to the office building previously occupied by Rodgers-Hoisington, Inc. in Paradise.
Gene Angel joined the agency in 1970 as licensed Agent, Securities Representative and Income Tax Accountant. That same year, Vernita Scott was hired as bookkeeper and to help with clerical work. Janette Angel joined the staff as Secretary, Customer Service Representative and Personal Lines Agent in 1976.
Due to the death of Lawrence Cordill in 1976, his widow, Fleeta Cordill became licensed and assumed his job of calling on customers. She was assisted by Coleen Henson, who had been Lawrence’s secretary prior to his death.
On August 1, 1977 construction began on a new brick office building located at 106 Main Street in Paradise to accommodate the growing staff. The building was completed and the agency moved into their new offices over the New Year holiday of January 1978.
In 1984 Mona Hoisington joined the staff as a licensed Agent and began assisting as clerical help, Customer Service Representative and Personal Lines Agent.
The Inez Schloh Agency of Natoma was acquired in 1990, expanding the customer base.
In 1991, Ralph R. “Bob” Lambert was contracted as a satellite Agent in Stockton which helped to service the customers in that area originated by Mr. Cordill.
In 1992 John and Garnett Angel purchased the remaining shares of stock from Mr. Post, who semi-retired after 53 years with the firm, retaining only the Life portion of the business which he had established. He continued to service these accounts until when, at the age of 91, he and Vera moved to a retirement center in Salina.
Joe Novotny became affiliated with the agency in 1992 and serviced the accounts he brought with him, maintaining his office in Luray, Kansas.
Also in 1992, Richard Ross took over the Life & Health department, later acquiring his Securities license.
The “Flood of ‘93”, which ravaged such a large area, also took its toll on the office building. While the building was drying out and repairs being made, operations were temporarily moved to the recently-vacated grade school building for a few months.
In 1994 John and Garnett Angel sold the shares of stock to Dan and Mona Hoisington of Paradise. Within a year the Angels were able to retire as Mona assumed the position of Agency Manager and Personal Lines Agent and Dan concentrated on Commercial and Farm accounts.
With the departure of Janette (Angel) Ross and Richard Ross, who moved to the Kansas City area in 1977, Beverly Hachmeister of Natoma was hired as Customer Service Representative and Agent. She remained on staff until her retirement in 2010.
Western Kansas agents Michael and Rebekah Fitzpatrick were added as a satellite agency in 2001 and maintained their office in Garden City for several years, working on commission share.
Kim Hoisington, daughter-in-law of Dan and Mona, was hired to replace Ms. Hachmeister and was a valuable addition with her background as IT Specialist with a bank as well as previous experience as an insurance agent.
In 2011 Post Insurance, Inc. was the recipient of the Award of Merit from the Kansas Department of Commerce.
In 2017 Columbia Insurance Group recognized Post Insurance with the Pinnacle Agency Award for commitment to sustained profitable growth.
Other companies represented over the years include Nationwide (Allied), Bremen Farmers Mutual, Columbia Insurance Group, Dairyland, Farmers Casualty, Kansas Fire & Casualty, Kansas Mutual, Mid-Continent, Northwestern National, State Auto, Silvey Companies, Trinity, as well as a number of brokers for hard-to-place risks.
Post Insurance has always been committed to the Independent Agent ideology for the ability to write differing accounts with a variety of options. In 2007 Trusted Choice became the new face of the Independent Agent, bringing more national recognition to all they have to offer.
To assure professional competence, all employees are licensed agents with 12 to 24 hours of continuing education every two years.
Realizing the current trends of insurance in today’s world, several offers to merge with associations and agencies to gain access to additional companies were considered. An offer was accepted on May 1, 2017 to become part of Heritage Insurance Group, Inc. of Stockton, Kansas. Sharing the same background and type of customer base made this transition a perfect fit for the agencies as well as customers. In rural America it is important to maintain a presence and be available to answer questions and review policies in person for those who desire face-to-face interaction. At the same time, offering the capability to transact business electronically for the segment of today’s clients who operate in a digital world is essential to keep pace with the changing times.
The year 2017 marked 75 years in business for Post Insurance, Inc. Dan and Mona Hoisington decided it was time to retire, and they thanked the many loyal customers who were largely responsible for the company’s successful 75-year run. In 2018 the Post Insurance name was retired as well, and under the new name of Heritage Insurance Group, Inc. on October 1, 2018, the office was moved from Paradise to a new location in Russell, Kansas.
We congratulate Post Insurance, Inc. / Heritage Insurance Group, Inc. upon its selection to the First Class of the Russell County Kansas Hall of Fame.
SOURCE:
Dan and Mona Hoisington, Paradise, Kansas
Construction of the new office building began in downtown Paradise in 1977.
John & Garnet Angel
and Dan & Mona Hoisington.
