[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 112 (Friday, August 1, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1580]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO RONALD A. SMITH, ROCHESTER, IN, ON COMPLETION OF HIS TERM AS 
        PRESIDENT OF THE INDEPENDENT INSURANCE AGENTS OF AMERICA

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                         HON. STEPHEN E. BUYER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 31, 1997

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend a fellow Hoosier, 
Ronald A. Smith of Rochester, IN, who is nearing the completion of his 
1-year term 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.
  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 
invaluable 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.
  Ron was elected to IIAA's Executive Committee in 1993. In the time 
since, he has exhibited a spirit of dedication and concern for his 
300,000 independent agent colleagues around the country.
  Outside the 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 Boards of 
Directors for the Rochester Telephone Co. and Airvac, Inc., 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 Chamber of Commerce, and chairman of the 
Board of Trustees of Grace United Methodist Church.
  I congratulate my fellow Hoosier and activist citizen for a job 
extremely well done. Although he is stepping down as IIAA president, I 
am confident his selfless service to IIAA, his colleagues, and his 
fellow citizens of Rochester will continue into the future.




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