100TH MEETING: CAMERON FIRMS PLEDGE CENTURY OF EXCELLENCE

When Cameron Insurance Companies held an annual meeting recently, it was a milestone in the history of the Missouri-based multiline company.

"This was the 100th annual meeting for the company," said Gene E. Huckstep of Jackson, a director of the firm, which provides insurance services to policyholders in Missouri, Iowa and Arkansas. One of Cameron's three, branch claims facilities is in Cape Girardeau.

Edgar A. Walvoord, president of Cameron Mutual Insurance Co., welcomed more than 200 policyholders, agents and company employees to the annual meeting, held at the firm's home office in Cameron.

"Our theme for 1992 is `A Century of Commitment to Excellence,'" said Walvoord. "The theme reminds the company of what it took to reach this 100th year, and of its responsibilities as we head into our next 100 years of service. Quality of service is more important today than it has ever been."

In his remarks, he cited seven items that need attention in 1992: attitude, communications, competitive position, productivity, profit, reserves, and service.

"Over the long-haul, a well-managed company that provides service will make a profit," he said.

Three directors were re-elected to the Cameron Country Mutual Insurance Co. board, including Huckstep. Others were Wayne R. Walquist of Jefferson City and Gary Black of Trenton.

The company was founded in King City, Mo., as the Farmers' Mutual Tornado, Cyclone and Windstorm Association of the Third Congressional District of Missouri in March 1892.

Most of the early officers and directors of the company were farm mutual men, who, like all farmers of the area, needed to insure their buildings against losses from fire and windstorms, always a threat on the prairies.

Although eastern insurance companies had established offices in the St. Louis area during the early 1820s, the early homesteader breaking out new land could not afford the rates. As a result, the farm mutual movement grew popular.

When the company was formed, insurance in force was $94,700, but by 1896 the amount of risk in force totaled more than $3 million. In 1906, the company changed its name to State Farmers Mutual Tornado Insurance Co. of Missouri, and moved its offices to Cameron, where they are now.

It wasn't until 1958 that the company adopted a resolution to become a multiple-line mutual insurance company. This enabled the firm to write all types of casualty insurance throughout Missouri. At that time, the company's insurance in force was $508,029,000. That increased to $631,672,000 in 1960.

The first automobile policy was issued to C.S. McElwain, who had served as president of the company from 1930 to 1958. It covered his 1952 Oldsmobile, with a six-month premium of $32.95.

In 1965, the company moved to a new office building on 27 acres near Highways 69 and 36 at the north edge of Cameron. The building has been expanded twice since then. The pace of growth continued, and by 1968 the firm had 745 licensed agents in Missouri.

Because the company was becoming widely known across the state as "that Cameron company," the company changed its name to Cameron Mutual Insurance Co. in 1968. By 1980, Cameron Mutual had more than 150,000 policyholders, with a branch claims office in Springfield. A second branch claims office was established in Cape Girardeau in 1981, and a third in North Little Rock, Ark., in 1990.

The Cape Girardeau claims office employs eight people, said a spokesman at the office. In addition, five insurance agencies in Cape Girardeau County four at Cape Girardeau and one in Jackson provide Cameron insurance service.

In 1984, Cameron Mutual became a general mutual insurance company, and shortly thereafter received authority to write business in Iowa and Arkansas.

The Cameron Companies now include: Cameron Mutual Insurance, Cameron Country Mutual Insurance, Cameron Central Mutual Insurance, Cameron Life Insurance, and Eagle National Assurance corporation.