• J . Elmer Reese – Elmer was a Founding Fathers of the association . He was the first president of the Kansas Association of Insurance Agents in 1921 . Elmer was from Wichita and owned Reese & Company . He was one of the presidents of the defunct Kansas Insurance Federation , which was organized in 1917 . Elmer died in 1924 . A board resolution was passed at the October 1924 Topeka convention that read : “ The recent death of J . Elmer Reese of Wichita , Kansas , arouses our keenest sorrow and regret . Elmer Reese , as he was familiarly known to us , stood for the highest standard of business ethics , and contributed much to the success of our organization . We feel that his precepts and practices will live with us , even though he no longer moves in body among us .”
• Greg S . Renn - Greg was president of the association in 2000 . Greg stated in his address as incoming president at the Convention : “ The association is in great shape for the coming millennium due to the good people , past and present that have committed their time to making this association better . And whatever comes January first of 2000 , whether the world shuts down or not , I know I will find comfort in the fact that , at my home , my VCR will still be blinking !” After being president , Greg continued to serve the association by being on committees both at the state and national level . He served as the state national director for seven years starting in 2005 . His grandfather started the family business , Renn & Company , in 1933 in Wellington . His father , Bob also working in the agency starting in the early 1950 ’ s . Greg worked with his father until 1988 when Bob died . Bob encouraged Greg to be active in the association and he soon joined the Young Agents Committee . Greg graduated from University of Kansas in 1976 with a Degree in Journalism . He started working at the agency in 1977 . His two children are now working in the agency , making this a four- generation family business . Greg stated in his President ’ s Page column that the “ open door ” notion should be reiterated . KAIA members should always feel free to contact any Board Member with questions , comments , and concerns . Greg received the KAIA Distinguished Service Award . Greg was on the national Insurpac Committee in 2010 . Greg was also very active in his community as past president of the Chamber of Commerce , the Wellington Public Library Board and promoting educational facilities in Wellington .
• V . Murl Richmond – Murl was president of the association in 1966 . Murl graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University in 1931 with a degree in Business Administration . He entered the insurance business in Salina in 1932 . He purchased his agency in 1936 with Herb Glover . The agency was called Richmond & Glover Insurance Agency . They added an attorney to their business in 1946 , Frank Barbee and the name changed to the Richmond , Glover & Barbee Agency . While serving on the KAIA board as secretary in 1943 he was called to service and was commissioned in the Naval Reserve and served in the SW Pacific until 1946 . Murl was very active in Salina civic affairs , a Shriner at Isis Temple , a member of the Downtown Lions Club and the American Legion . Murl died on June 8 , 1992 at the age of 82 .
• Theodore Roosevelt – Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States . He served as President of the United States from 1901 to 1909 . He was quoted as saying : “ Every man owes some part of his time to the building up of the profession or industry of which he is a member ”.
• Kenneth Ross – Kenneth was president of the association in 1950 . He was the state national director for three years from 1951 through 1954 . Ken started in the insurance business in 1938 and opened his own agency in 1942 in Arkansas City , Kenneth Ross & Company . He was inducted into the Army in 1944 . His wife , Gail , continued to run the office while he was away . He was the state national director for four years . He served on the national Executive Committee from 1951 to 1956 and was elected president of the National Association of Insurance Agents in 1955 . He was the first Kansan to achieve this position . In 1969 his agency merged with the United Agency and his son Stephen became a partner . Kenneth died on August 5 , 1982 .
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