Wall spends 52 years in insurance business [The McDowell News, Marion, N.C.]

April 05--Since 1960, Dean Wall has seen to it that folks around McDowell are properly insured. And now after 52 years, Wall is retiring from working in the insurance business.

"I want to thank the citizens of McDowell, who I had the pleasure to serve these many years by putting their trust in me to handle their insurance needs," said Wall, who is 77. "I have enjoyed insurance and I have seen many changes over these past 52 years."

Wall started working at the age of 24 for Rice & White Furniture store in June 1959. At the time, there was an insurance office in the store by the name of Jarrett & White Insurance Agency. Bob Jarrett Sr. and Roger White started the agency in 1957 and a short time later, Harold Rice became a partner. In 1960, Wall became interested in insurance and was licensed as an agent in April of that year. He was hired as a commissioned agent for Jarrett & White and worked as such for six years. He became the agency manager in 1966 and in 1969 he purchased Jarrett's interest in the agency.

Several years later, Rice passed away. Wall and White purchased the late Rice's interest in the agency from his widow. In 1990, Wall bought White's stock and became the sole owner.

"We were an independent agency representing multiple companies," Wall told The McDowell News. He added his agency handled all types of insurance including homeowner's, life, health, automobile and worker's compensation.

In 1995, Wall sold the agency to Phillip Tate and worked with him for the next four years. He also got into the automobile business with his son, Darryl, until 2008, but he retained his insurance license to sell health and life insurance to seniors. This included Medicare supplements, Medicare Advantage, life and annuities. Wall retired from Amerilife and Health Services as of Friday, March 30.

As an insurance agent, Wall has had to help clients through many difficult situations such as a car wreck, a house fire, an injury from an accident or a death in the family. And for many years, he was also the chief of the McDowell County Rescue Squad.

"I've seen some tragedies," he said.

He has also seen many changes in how insurance forms are handled.

"When the agency began, we had to type our policies in house, using manual typewriters," he said. "These policies were auto, fire, homeowner's and commercial. In 1977, I automated my office and then started typing policies by computer, which saved many hours. While typing with a manual typewriter took minutes, the computer would only take a few seconds."

As he retires from insurance, Wall said McDowell County has been good to him.

"Yes, I will miss this business but I will stay busy," he said. "Again, thanks so very much for allowing me to serve you."

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