[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 135 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S11443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       COMMENDING RONALD A. SMITH

 Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise today to commend a fellow 
Hoosier, Ronald A. Smith of Rochester, Indiana who will be installed as 
president of the Nation's largest insurance association--the 
Independent Insurance Agents of America [IIAA]. Ron is President of 
Smith, Sawyer & Smith, Inc., an independent insurance agency located in 
Rochester.
  Ron's career as an independent insurance agent has been marked with 
outstanding dedication to his clients, his community, IIAA, the 
Independent Insurance Agents of Indiana, his colleagues and his 
profession.
  At the State level, Ron served as chairman of numerous committees and 
held several elective offices in the Independent Insurance Agents of 
Indiana, culminated by a term as president. In recognition of his 
contributions, his peers named Ron the 1992 Indiana Agent of the Year.
  Ron began his service to the national organization by serving as 
Indiana's representative to IIAA's National Board of State Directors 
from 1987 to 1993. At the same time, he served the national association 
as chairman of its membership committee and dues study task force and 
as a member of the agency/company operating practices task force on 
solvency and McCarran-Ferguson.
  Ron was elected to IIAA's executive committee in 1993. In the time 
since then, he has exhibited a spirit of dedication and concern for his 
300,000 independent agent colleagues around the country.
  Outside of IIAA, Ron has served the insurance industry as a member of 
the board of trustees of the American Institute for CPCU and the 
Insurance Institute of America and a member of the board of directors 
for the Insurance Education Foundation, Inc.
  Ron's selfless attitude also extends to his involvement in Rochester-
area community activities. He currently serves on the Rochester 
Telephone Co. board of directors and is a member of the Rochester 
Community School Building Corp. In the past, he served as chairman of 
the Fulton County United Way, president of the Rochester Kiwanis, 
president of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and chairman of the 
board of trustees of Grace United Methodist Church.
  I am confident that Ron will serve with distinction and provide 
leadership as president of the Independent Insurance Agents of America 
over the next year. I wish Ron and his wife Maureen all the best as 
IIAA's president and first lady.

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