Knight Insurance presented with plaque for partnership with Auto Owners
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Right to Left: Judy Greer, Melinda Dukes, Lucas Knight, Merrilee Knight, Brooke Knight, Brent Buckalew (Auto Owners Senior Marketing Rep.), Charlie Drier (Auto Owners Regional Vice President)
On Tuesday, August 2nd, Knight Insurance of Chrisman and Georgetown were presented with a plaque celebrating fifty years of partnership with Auto-Owners Insurance.
The agency has represented Auto-Owners in Chrisman for a wide range of personal and commercial insurance products as well as life, annuity and disability income since 1972.
The agency, now Knight Insurance, got it’s start back in 1909 with John T. Scott. Mr. Scott built the building that was once located at 107 North Indiana (corner of Monroe and Indiana) and started the original insurance agency in Chrisman. Scott would go on to own the agency for twenty-nine years.
Harry and Bernice Hayworth purchased the agency from Scott in 1938 and operated the agency for twenty-four years.
In 1962, Bill McClintock, Bill Bowman and Al Lientz purchased the agency from the Hayworth’s. The trio owned and operated the agency for twenty-three years.
In 1979, Dennie and Merrilee Knight purchased the property of the current Knight Insurance location at 103 S. Pennsylvania in Chrisman. The property formerly housed The Chuck Wagon Restaurant and Neal TV Shop.
The building was completely remodeled and on December 1st, 1979, the business opened as Knight Insurance. A year later, the business would expand to a second location at 1508 North Main Street in Georgetown.
In 1985, Dennie and Merrilee purchased McClintock, Bowman and Lientz agency on the square in Chrisman and moved it to their existing location on the highway. One of the most valuable assets that came with the purchase was employee Barbara Yates. Barbara had eighteen years of experience and would remain with the agency for thirteen years.
On July 15th, 1987, The Knight’s purchased the Kelly Insurance Agency at One South State in Ridge Farm. The following year, a new log cabin style office was built at 1301 North Main Street in Georgetown. At that time, the Georgetown and Ridge Farm agencies were moved into that facility.
On March 19th, 2008, Dennie and Merrilee’s son, Lucas, came to work for the agency after working in Danville for a year.
In 2009, the agency entered its 100th year of continuous service to Chrisman and the surrounding area. At that time, Dennie and Merrilee enjoyed their 30th year of agency ownership.
On October 8th, 2014, Dennie Knight passed away at the age of 68.
In 2015, Lucas’ wife, Brooke, joined the agency.
The agency continues to operate at their current location by the members of the Knight family.
“It’s different, but we just stayed together,” Merrilee said, after Dennie’s passing.
Knight Insurance would like to thank those who have gone before them and whole-hardheartedly thank those who have supported them for many years.
