New proprietor says it’s business as usual for customers –
By Patricia Beech –
One of the longest-running businesses in Adams County, the Roush Insurance Agency, celebrated its 80th anniversary with an Open House celebration on Friday, May 11.
Friends and colleagues gathered at the business, located at 313 East Main Street in West Union, to honor the agency’s long-time owner, Glenna R. Grooms who purchased the business from her parents, Ralph and Hazel Roush.
According to Tammy Hoop Crothers, a long-time associate at the agency, the celebration was also a tribute to Ralph and Hazel.
“We wanted to acknowledge the legacy they left behind in all the people they touched along the way,” said Crothers.
Ralph Roush, the company’s founder, became licensed to sell insurance on May 12, 1938. Not one to let the moss grow under his feet, the following day, he married his sweetheart, Hazel Hafer, and together they began operating their insurance business out of their family home on Roy Pence Road.
Ralph never missed an opportunity to make a sale. Wherever he went he carried an insurance rate book in his shirt pocket. Working off a single library table, he and Hazel spent many hours taking care of the insurance needs for many residents across Adams County.
When the couple decided to step away from the insurance business, they were able to hand the reins over to their daughter, Glenna R. Grooms, who purchased part ownership in 1975 and became sole owner in 1980.
Crothers says even though the ownership role changed, things stayed pretty much the same around the agency.
“Ralph would still stop by the office daily to greet everyone with a ‘Howdy Doody,’” she said, “He was absolutely devoted to his customers.”
Glenna has since dedicated 50 years to the agency.
Crothers calls it “quite an accomplishment” and jokingly says that Grooms “has the insurance business is in her blood”.
When Grooms recently retired from the business, she handed the reins to Crothers, who she calls her “adopted daughter”.
Crothers, who worked 30 years at the agency before taking over sole proprietorship, says her former boss will remain an important part of the business.
“Glenna and her husband Dale still have an interest in the business,” she says, adding, “They always will.”
Roush Insurance takes pride in their relationships with their clients and welcomes anyone interested in a free insurance quote to give them a call at (937) 544-3123, or stop by the office located at 313 East Main Street in West Union
“We sell all types of insurance and currently have the designation of Senior Partner with the Grange Insurance company,” says Crothers, “Our staff has many years of experience and they have contributed to the success of this family-oriented agency for all these years.”
