Neighborly insurance: Stevenson-Jensen celebrates 50 years [Hendricks County Flyer, Avon, Ind.]

Feb. 9--DANVILLE -- So much has changed in and around the courthouse square here over the years.

While some businesses, such as the Mayberry Cafe, have flourished, and others, like the Royal Theater, are under new ownership, many have come and gone. Even the Town Hall recently moved to the former middle school.

So when a locally-owned establishment celebrates 50 years, as the Stevenson-Jensen Agency did recently, it's worth noting.

Richard Jensen, who runs the business with his son Carson, still follows a now-outdated practice on the square. At noon every Wednesday, he closes shop and uses the free time for preferred leisure like golfing and fishing.

"At one time you could go all around the square and everybody closed at noon on Wednesday," said Richard, who makes up the time by working Saturdays.

The mid-week break may still be done, but the Stevenson-Jensen Agency has seen changes.

Gone are its original partners, Ed Stevenson and Robert Jensen. Stevenson started the company in 1944, moving it from Clayton after the building at 148 S. Washington St. became available. Robert Jensen, a graduate of Canterbury College (formerly Central Normal College) in Danville, worked for Hartford Insurance in Indianapolis as an underwriter. The two struck up a working relationship. In 1959, Stevenson asked Jensen to join his firm as a partner, which he accepted.

Richard Jensen remembers Stevenson, who died of a heart attack on Christmas in 1971, as a kind man who was very sociable.

"He would love to just sit down and talk with you and drink a cup of coffee -- just really get to know you," Richard said. "And if the business came to him, fine."

The insurance business certainly came to Richard. After Stevenson died, he joined his father in the firm in 1972. Richard's last job was 38 years ago, working for Earl Dugan Chevrolet and "doing whatever Earl Dugan told me to do" while studying at IUPUI.

"To this day I'm still very close to the (Dugan) family," he said.

He vividly remembers the day his father showed up at the dealership and pulled him into Dugan's office to say he needed Richard to come work at the insurance company. Richard respectfully gave Dugan two weeks notice. Dugan told him to work a couple more days, then take the rest of that time off to do whatever he wanted. He knew Richard would be working for his father for a long time.

"I never will forget him saying that," Richard said. "Of course I only took off a couple days. My dad said, 'No, you're coming now.'"

For a while, Stevenson-Jensen was a three-generation family business. Richard's son Carson joined in 2002 after graduating from Indiana State University with a degree in risk management.

"I pretty much always had it in my head that that's what I wanted to do," Carson said. "It's been ingrained in me for a while."

So far he's found it easy to work with his father.

"I always hear bad stories about families working together, but we get along great," Carson said. "I'm happy to have the relationship I do with my dad. It makes it easy."

Richard added, "It's so much easier to get along than it is to not get along."

Richard misses that connection with his own father, who died in 2007.

"I learned a tremendous amount (from him)," he said. "There are things he told me that I can't remember. I still wish I had him here to grab information."

Aside from the Jensens, there are two secretaries -- Sherree Krause and Ronda Spurlock -- who have been with the company for years.

"If we didn't have them, we would be hurting," Richard said. "The girls run the office; we just come in and do what they tell us."

People often ask Richard why the company has kept the Stevenson name.

"My little snide remark is, 'I've got too many softball and bowling uniforms that say Stevenson-Jensen on them,'" he said.

Indeed, the eldest Jensen was passionate about sponsoring youth sports here, a tradition his son and grandson have continued. Aside from sports, Robert also served as president of the Danville Optimists and on the Chamber of Commerce board.

"That's what we try to do," Richard said. "Not so much be involved completely, but be a silent partner one way or another."

Stevenson-Jensen has never been flashy about their insurance either. About 65 percent of their accounts are for commercial entities; the rest is personal coverage. That's for everything from homes and autos to life.

"The only thing we're really not into is health insurance," Richard said. "That is such a nightmare."

Their personal approach has resulted in a loyal customer base that's stayed with them for years -- some even after moving from Danville.

"I've grown up with this agency," Richard said. "It's been really neat to deal with and know all the people."

For more information on Stevenson-Jensen, call 745-4466.

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