75 years and still run by family insurance Murphy has served

By Rod King, The News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Apr. 4--What Harold Murphy began in 1934 as a way to earn extra money to support his family just hit the 75-year mark. The business he started while working at International Harvester, Murphy Insurance at 626 Broadway in New Haven, is now run by his son Tom.

Harold's father, Robert, suggested he consider selling auto and home insurance to his fellow Harvester workers. Harold wrote to Farmers Mutual Liability Company (later Meridian Mutual and now State Auto) in Indianapolis and asked if it would be interested in having an agent in this area. Much to his surprise, he received an agent's kit by return mail and was officially in the insurance business.

As Tom Murphy points out, agents then didn't have to take a test or be licensed by the state.

"I remember him giving quotes on the back of an envelope," Tom Murphy said. "By 1958 he was general foreman at Harvester, and would come home after a full day's work and put in several hours keeping up with his insurance clients in a back bedroom of the house that served as home and office.

"There was a big downturn in the economy then and he was laid off work for just a week. He decided then and there his calling was insurance. So he retired from Harvester with 29 years of service and never looked back. He purchased the house on Broadway in 1937, tore off the big front porch in 1958, made it into an office and added a staff person."

Tom, who was 13 when Harold made his career shift, made up his mind in his early days at New Haven High School that he wanted to work with his dad. He went to Ball State University, took every insurance course offered and earned a bachelor's degree in general business administration.

With a wife and two children, he was eager to start making some money. So in March 1967, he began working with his dad and also had a desk at Guarantee Mutual Life in the Anthony Wayne Bank building. "I went back and forth between the two. I was young and hungry then and would work any leads."

His niche was selling health and life insurance, while his father continued with the property and casualty side of the business.

In 1976 when Harold retired, Tom and his wife, Susan, who is the firm's bookkeeper and has her property/casualty license, began buying the remainder of the agency and expanding the office. They now have two fully qualified property/casualty staff members (Tammy Weller and Gina Koogler).

Murphy says, "We've been able to get through the economic ups and downs over the years because, first of all, home and auto insurance products are somewhat sheltered. If your house is financed, it's important to keep your insurance current. And with auto insurance, the state requires you carry coverage.

"In addition, we're an independent insurance agency, so we represent a variety of companies; we're a relatively small agency; we have a small, highly educated staff with little turnover; and we operate out of a modest, paid-off building."

Today, the agency has become known for helping clients on Medicare. Murphy has helped hundreds negotiate the confusing options available to Medicare beneficiaries. He is a Chartered Life Underwriter, a Certified Insurance Counselor and a Registered Investment Advisor.

Murphy Insurance has been a member of the New Haven Chamber of Commerce since its creation in 1945, and Tom served as Chamber president in 1994. He also headed the local economic development corporation and has been deeply involved in other community activities over the years.

The agency was named Business of the Year in 1994 and received the Half-Century Business Award from Lt. Governor Joe Kernan in 2003.

"I consider myself a 'local yokel' who hasn't gone very far in life," he said with a smile. I was born in Dr. G.A. Smith's office, which used to be next door.

"Being local gives us the advantage of serving several generations of insurance customers who are all our friends and neighbors. Insurance enabled us to raise two sons, Tim, who lives in Fort Wayne, and Jeff, who resides in Warsaw."

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