[017] JOE CLINARD JR. TO BE INDUCTED INTO INSURANCE HALL OF FAME

July 17, 2009

CONTACT: Tom Tozer, 615-898-2919
Dr. Kenneth Hollman, 615-898-2673

JOE CLINARD JR. TO BE INDUCTED INTO INSURANCE HALL OF FAME

MURFREESBORO—Joseph M. Clinard Jr., of Nashville, will be inducted into Middle Tennessee State University’s Robert E. Musto Tennessee Insurance Hall of Fame, joining 40 other professionals in that esteemed group. The ceremony will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in Murfreesboro on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
In 1946, Clinard went to work for Hardware Mutual Casualty Company of Stevens Point, Wis., as a field man with the title of safety engineer. He worked out of the Atlanta office. In 1948 he was brought into the home office as an underwriter, and by 1949, he was underwriting all lines of casualty insurance.
In 1950, Shelby (Ohio) Mutual Insurance Company hired Mr. Clinard as special agent to set up a branch office in Nashville, covering the entire state. In 1965, Shelby Mutual appointed him resident vice president. He subsequently expanded the company’s operations into Mississippi and Arkansas.
By 1978, Shelby wrote an estimated 70 percent of Tennessee Doctors Professional Liability Insurance. As the line trended toward non-profitability, most carriers, including Shelby, decreased their writing. Because of the market shortage, the state created the Tennessee Temporary Joint Underwriting Association (TTJUA).
Clinard was elected to the board of directors of the TTJUA and subsequently was elected chair. He served in that capacity until 1988. The organization was recognized as one of the best and most successful of its kind in the country.
During his years with Shelby, Clinard served 18 years on the Tennessee Assigned Risk Plan Board of Directors, 14 of those years as chairman. He also served for 18 years as treasurer of the Tennessee 1752 Club, a service club of field men and women of mutual insurance companies. He was the first person to be named “Field Man of the Year” by the Tennessee Mutual Insurance Agents Association.
In January of 1984, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville hired Mr. Clinard to develop a self-insurance property and casualty insurance program that was fiscally and actuarially sound. Nineteen years later that goal was met and on May 31, 2003, Clinard retired.
Clinard’s passion is flying. He made his first solo flight on his 21st birthday, Oct. 21, 1939, and he purchased his first airplane in early 1940. In 1993, he set two cross-country, point-to-point speed records in the National Aeronautic Association’s Microlight Aircraft category. He made his last solo flight in 2007. After 68 years, he decided it was time to give up flying.
His other enthusiasm is physical fitness. He began distance running at 59 years of age and for the next nine years continued competing in distances up to 15 miles. After his third knee operation, his doctor advised that he change to something else. While in “rehab,” he was introduced to a Concept 11 Ergometer, a state-of-the-art rowing machine that is used by rowing teams to train athletes during winter months when they can’t get on the water. Soon after, he became a world-class rower. In 1999, he set a record in the 80-90 age division of 8:03.6 minutes for 2000 meters, a record that held for three years. On March 17, 1995, Nashville Mayor Phil Bredesen presented Clinard with a Certificate of Merit as Athlete of the Year.
Clinard and his wife have two children and are members of the Westview United Methodist Church.
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, who died earlier this year, was regional sales manager of the company his father helped build.
Including the inductees for 2009, there are 41 members in the Robert E. Musto Insurance Hall of Fame, which is under the auspices of the Tommy T. Martin Chair of Insurance in MTSU’s Jones College of Business. Dr. Kenneth W. Hollman is holder of the Martin Chair.
Also being inducted on Aug. 4 are E. Denby Brandon Jr. of Memphis and Robert E. Rose of Murfreesboro.

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