Introducing 2022 Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame Inductee
Allan Kennedy
The Allan Kennedy Agency was founded in Fort Smith in 1889 by Allan Kennedy. In 1911 Harry Albers joined the agency and it became the Kennedy and Albers Agency. In 1946, the agency became known as Kennedy, Albers & Phillips after Sam Phillips, Mr. Kennedy's nephew, joined the family agency. Kennedy, Albers & Phillips then purchased Arkansas Valley, the second oldest agency in Fort Smith.
In 1901 Allan Kennedy helped found the Independent Insurance Agents Association in Arkansas. He was elected its first president at the historic first meeting in Little Rock. On seven separate occasions Mr. Kennedy was called upon for leadership and to help the association through trying times. In response to this need he served seven consecutive terms as President, beginning in 1901 and ending in 1918. Prior to that time Mr. Kennedy had already served on the executive committee of the National Association of Insurance Agents.
Annually the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Arkansas awards the Allan Kennedy Memorial Award. This is the highest honor this association can bestow on a member agent or a local board. This award is designed to honor and recognize the agents of today who best live up to the standards of excellence and leadership set by Allan Kennedy.
Mr. Kennedy was the agent credited with persuading the National Association in 1901 to wage its successful court fight to get the resident agent law passed going all the way to the United State Supreme Court which established the principle of local agent ownership of expirations, the very keystone of the American Agency System today.
Mr. Kennedy was heavily involved in public affairs. He was a member of the Arkansas State Legislature and served several years as Brigadier General of the Arkansas State Guard. Mr. Kennedy was a member of numerous local civic bodies and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. During the war with Germany, Mr. Kennedy was appointed by Herbert Hoover as food administrator for Sebastian County. He was one of Fort Smith's most honored and valued citizens.
About the Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame
The Arkansas Insurance Hall of Fame was created in 2015 to recognize leaders of the Arkansas Insurance industry. These leaders exemplify innovation, social responsibility, leadership, and professional excellence. They have made broad encompassing and lasting contributions to advance the role of insurance in society and have significantly impacted the lives of many Arkansans.
