Newhouse holds a photo of the building as it appeared in 1930 . The building that currently houses the offices of M & M Insurance Associates was originally constructed for the Etchen Auto Co ., a Studebaker dealership .
The second floor of the M & M Insurance Associates building in downtown Wichita attracts the attention of motorists passing by the Douglas Avenue location .
“ We only used family money ,” he said . “ I didn ’ t borrow money . Most of these finance companies borrowed money from the bank , but we just used family money . We didn ’ t use the bank ’ s , so we were limited . But it was just too much . By then , there had been half a dozen finance companies pop up for insurance .”
Life Lessons
After five decades in business , the 85-year-old nearly retired last year after he received a proposal to sell his business . In August , Newhouse signed a letter of intent to sell the business to the Parsons-based Wood-Dulohery insurance agency . As the deal moved forward , talks stalled , preventing the agreement from getting finalized by the fall deadline . However , an extension was granted giving the men additional time to negotiate a deal . But in the meantime , Newhouse realized he just couldn ’ t sell the business .
“ I thought about it , and I thought about it , but I just couldn ’ t sell it . You know ?” he said . “ When my folks gave me the money , they said , ‘ This is for the family business . And I would prefer it to be a family business .”
Once he reached a decision , Newhouse drove to Parsons to deliver the news face-to-face .
“ I explained how I just couldn ’ t sell it ,” he said . “ I went down and explained that I just couldn ’ t sell it . I was sorry , and they were really disappointed to say the least ... and so I ’ m still here .”
A key to success , Newhouse said is surrounding himself with several , talented key people . Without them , he said , he wouldn ’ t have lasted a year .
“ When you ’ re interested in helping people , and you have a genuine interest in them , they know it ,” she said . Believe me , they know it . And you ’ re not an order-taker . And you ’ re not sitting there doing what you have to do and not really care . That don ’ t cut it … That ’ s why I ’ m sitting where I am today .”
A passion for the American automobile
As a high-schooler in the mid-1940s , Newhouse drove his own Model A Roadster to school each day . The automobile , complete with a rumble seat and a soft top , was hard to drive by modern day standards , but it didn ’ t matter to a young Newhouse . After a couple of years , the young man graduated from the starter model , upgrading to a car with a hard top .
Several years later , Newhouse , now an adult , wanted to find another Model A similar to the one he had in high school . As he searched , Newhouse eventually learned one of his clients had three Model As tucked away in his garage . Despite his attempts to purchase just one of the models , the owner refused to sell any of them .
A few years after moving into the agency ’ s current location , however , Newhouse received a call from one of the car owners , who asked if he was still serious about buying the Model A . When he told the man he was , Newhouse learned he couldn ’ t just buy one , but all three , and was told to bring his checkbook . When he arrived , however , the cars were up on blocks and covered in dirt . Mice nests filled the tailpipes .
Newhouse brought the cars to his garage , where they were cleaned and overhauled by his longtime mechanic . Many dollars and man hours later , he said , the cars were running .
Around Wichita , Newhouse is known for his love of antique cars . If he isn ’ t driving one of his Model As , they ’ re on display on the second floor of the business – which was originally used as an auto showroom . And at Christmastime , the cars serve as the centerpiece for the whimsical displays , which capture the attention of motorists along Douglas Avenue .
“ I ’ m just like a lot of men ,” he said . “ I like my toys . But I also know how much the kids like the cars in the window . It gives them a lot of joy .”
18 KANSAS INSURANCE AGENT & BROKER | January-February 2016 |