003 WILLIAM PHILLIPS TO BE INDUCTED INTO TENNESSEE INSURANCE HALL OF FAME

July 20, 2006
CONTACT: Tom Tozer, 615-898-5131
Dr. Ken Hollman, 615-898-2673

MURFREESBORO—William Seaton Phillips, founder of the Phillips Fire and Casualty Agency in Memphis, whose contribution to Tennessee's insurance industry has spanned nearly five decades, will be inducted into the Middle Tennessee State University Robert E. Musto Tennessee Insurance Hall of Fame on Monday, July 31. The ceremony and banquet, which will begin at 5:30 p.m., will take place at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, Franklin, Tenn.
Friends and professional associates of Phillips are invited free of charge to the banquet and ceremony. The hotel is located at 700 Cool Springs Boulevard, and the phone number is 1-615-261-6100.
Phillips will be inducted along with Jack K. Westbrook of Knoxville, and Roy Ketner McDonald, of Chattanooga, the latter of whom who will be honored posthumously.
"The Musto Insurance Hall of Fame was created to identify and honor those insurance professionals whose names will be mentioned most prominently when a history of the insurance industry in Tennessee is written," Dr. Ken Hollman, holder of MTSU’s Martin Chair of Insurance, said.
Phillips, who holds the CPCU, CLU, ARM and CPIA insurance designations, enjoyed a distinguished career at what was then Memphis State University and also created his own successful agency. He served twice as president of The Memphis Chapter of the Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriters Society and also served on the society’s Education Committee. He was a member of the Society of Chartered Life Underwriters, Memphis Chapter, from 1972 to 2004 and has been a member of the Professional Insurance Agents of Tennessee for most of his career.
Early in his career, Phillips worked for the City of Memphis, Vocational Department, where he developed and taught courses on business office skills at city high schools. He opened his agency in 1958, then sold it to Mid-South Insurance Agency in 2004.
At what is now the University of Memphis, he taught as a graduate assistant, then later earned an M.B.A. degree and was asked to continue teaching. In 1968, he remained on the staff to assist in developing an insurance major. He was tenured as a professor in 1970 and taught insurance, risk-management and finance courses until he retired in 1994. His articles have been published academic journals and general-interest magazines.
Phillips is involved in public service and numerous civic organizations, and he is the regular organist at Mullins Methodist Church in Memphis.
In 1997, Robert L. Musto, son of Robert E. Musto, presented a $10,000 gift to MTSU's Martin Chair of Insurance in honor of his father, which provided the foundation for the hall of fame. The late Robert E. Musto served as vice president of the former National Life and Accident Insurance Company. Robert L. Musto of Nashville is regional sales manager of the company his father helped build.
To register your attendance for the banquet and ceremony, please contact Hollman at 615-898-2673.

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NOTE: For a jpeg headshot of Phillips, please contact Tom Tozer at 615-898-5131.