HIN 2025-2026 2nd Editon

EVENTS Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament APR 22 nd CE | Mold Remediation Course Hosted by ELITExasIIAH YIP's MAY 20 th Spring Golf Classic JULY 11 th Annual Charity Bowl “Oh, the Places you’ll Bowl” APR 9 th

The Women's Home Graduation Host MAY 6 th Kid's Meals Volunteer Project JUN 15 th Kid's Meals Volunteer Project JUL 15th Ronald McDonald House AUG 13th

VOLUNTEER

HOUSTON INSURANCE DAY COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHT WHATPlanWE DO: Houston Insurance Day  Select & Secure Keynote Speakers  Secure Exhibitors & Sponsors for the event  Provide a valuable experience for attendees

Our mission is to provide networking opportunities for agents and affiliate members through a one-day industry wide convention. Houston Insurance Day (HID) averages 2,000 industry professionals in attendance every year and up to 150 exhibiting companies.

Our committee is a team of individuals who have a common goal of producing the best one-day industry

wide convention in Texas! Want to join our committee to expand your network and contribute to this

industry event?

MEETING Contact Chariman,

Matt Romano Mromano@crcgroup.com for more information.

DETAILS

2

FEATURES

HID 2026

09 - 56

Rodeo Happy Hours

63 - 64

Charity Crawfish Boil

69 - 77

CONTENTS 01 02 04 07 57

3

EVENTS

COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHT

PRESIDENT & CEO MESSAGE

CHAIRMAN MESSAGE

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

59 60 61 65 66

AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT

E&O

IIAH GIVES BACK

RECOGNIZING GROWTH

HAVE YOU HEARD

67 IMPACT

79 IN MEMORIAM

81 WHO HAS THE LAST WORD

March 31, 2026

David Wuthrich Dwuthrich@iiah.org

WOW, another awesome Houston Insurance Day is in the books! Thanks to all who participated by either exhibiting or coming to walk the floor.

By my count, we had over 1,800 people in attendance. THANKS again to the HID committee for all their hard work throughout the year. You guys do an amazing job and we couldn’t have HID without you! I thought the speaker this year was very impactful! Her story about surviving the Boston Marathon bombing and the way she has a positive outlook on life everyday was inspiring. Thank you to RT Specialty for sponsoring her appearance.

I thought the new addition of a second Happy Hour after the end of the event was a huge success. We have a few logistical things to work out, but look for that to continue in 2027. For those of you who were not in attendance at lunch, we renamed our highest honor at IIAH. The Outstanding Service award is the pinnacle of IIAH. I could think of no better person to honor than our own Renee King (Stager). From now forward, it will be called the Renee King Outstanding Service Award. Please congratulate Renee on this very special honor!

We have a lot of wonderful events coming up in the next few months that I hope that you will participate in: YIP's Hosted CE Course, Poker Tournament and Spring golf tournament, just to name a few. This is your association, so please come up and support these events. They are a wonderful place to network and meet your fellow members, even if you don’t participate in the activities themselves.

Hope to see all of you real soon at an IIAH event or meeting. There will be a very important meeting on Tuesday, April 14th to plan what IIAH will look like in 2031. This will be held from 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM at Texas Mutual Office in Houston. Open for any Member to Attend!

Please look at the website for more information, but if this is something that you would be interested in, please attend this meeting. You can determine what your Association will be in the coming years!

David Wuthrich IIAH President & CEO

4

COMMITTEES

5

are what breaths life into our association. With 9 active committees there are at least 100 people actively serving the association with their unique skills. We are always looking to put your skills to use, to further drive the association’s mission forward. No matter what your skills are, or what you are passionate about, we likely have something of interest to you. The end result is to better the industry we all serve. Join a Committee today and become part of the mission.

2025 - 2026 Charitable Projects/ Fire Poster

Chairman: Kathryn Noser

Education, I.T., CE

Houston Insurance Day

Chairman: Matt Romano

Co Vice Chair: Nancy Eugenio

Co Vice Chair: Carmen Swift

Legislative

Chairman: Kyle Dean

Vice Chairman: Wes Kurtz

IMPACT

Chairman: Wes Kurtz

Recreation

Chairman: Carisa Cole

Vice Chairman: Steven Sprague

Young Insurance Professionals

Chairman: Macy Bennett

Vice Chairman: Grant Pierce

PR/Media Matters

Chairman: Scott West

Social Media

Chairman: Charles McDade

Vice Chairman: Cassie Shanks

Houston Insurance News Chairman: Amy Weimer

Vice Chairman: Cassie Shanks

ANNUAL SPONSORS Titanium Elite Sponsors Imperial PFS

Burns & Wilcox, Ltd.

CRC Group

Vintage Underwriters Platinum Partners for Excellence Brown & Riding

RT Specialty

Texas Mutual Insurance

WSG Specialty Underwriters Gold Patron Sponsors Bridge Specialty

Chubb

Jencap

Travelers

WRIGHT Flood New Affiliate Members Enterprise Rent-a-car

Total Restoration

Vensure HR

EXECUTIVE

COMMITTEE Susan Zipperer

Chairman

Ryan Beavers

Chairman Elect

Angela Delap

Vice Chairman

Robert Oncken

Treasurer

Faith Boren

Treasurer Elect

David Wuthrich Secretary

Jason Knecht

Past Chairman

Chris Dowling

Affiliate Liaison

Tom Fitzpatrick

Affiliate Liaison

BOARD OF

DIRECTORS Matthew Erskin

Jesse Serna

Sam Houston

Daniel Shearer

Matt Leicht

Keaton Sumicek

Charles McDade Wes Weatherred

Kathryn Noser

Blake Wellmann

William Peachey

STAFF

David Wuthrich President & CEO

Ayla Comuyog

Sr. Managing Director

Renee Stager

Sr. Managing Director

Shelby Hibbard

Managing Director

Deb McRae

Advertising

7660 Woodway #535, Houston, Texas 77063

www.iiah.org P: 832. 769.4666 F: 832.324.3503

6

CHAIRMAN’S

MESSAGE Susan Zipperer szipperer@efgia.com

We are off to a great start to the new year, and the energy, engagement, and generosity of our members has really shown. From meaningful volunteer efforts to outstanding networking opportunities and a highly successful annual conference, the first quarter has set a strong foundation for what promises to be another impactful year for our organization.

January kicked things off with a heartwarming volunteer event with Citizens for Animal Protection where members spent time walking and playing with puppies and dogs, as well as playing with kittens and cats—all of whom were available for adoption. It was a wonderful reminder of the difference we can make when we give back together.

February continued the energy with ELITExas - IIAH YIP “Cues and Connections” Pool Tournament held at Woody’s Hideaway. This was YIPs first annual pool tournament, which exceeded expectations with a great turnout and enthusiastic participation. The positive feedback and excitement have already generated buzz for next year’s event. A couple weeks later was IIAH’s annual Houston Insurance Day (HID), which was a tremendous success. The festivities began the evening before with a happy hour sponsored by ELITExas - IIAH YIP that set the tone for connection and camaraderie. The main event was exceptionally well attended, with bustling exhibit halls, a valuable education session for high school students enrolled in an insurance risk management certification program, and an outstanding keynote speaker, Rebekah Gregory, whose message was truly inspirational. We capped off a fantastic day with another happy hour hosted by IIAH’s HID Committee, allowing members to continue conversations and strengthen relationships. IIAH’s Executive Committee and Board Members extend a special thank you to our sponsors - Annual, Exclusive, Platinum, Gold, and Silver - and all the exhibitors for making Houston Insurance Day possible. Without you, HID would not be the success it is.

Also, to the HID committee and our dedicated IIAH team, Ayla Comuyog, Shelby Hibbard, and Renee King, whose hard work made the conference possible – Thank you for the incredible effort you put into organizing such a wonderful event!

March kept the momentum going with three happy hours held in the Wine Garden of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. These gatherings provided a great opportunity to entertain clients, network, and enjoy a beverage before heading into the evening’s main events. We closed out the month with our Charity Crawfish Boil, which successfully raised funds for three amazing charities – Camp Hope, Child Advocates and Covenant House. It was a fun and meaningful way to bring our community together in support of important causes.

Looking ahead, we have several exciting volunteer opportunities, charity and networking events coming up.

Please be on the lookout for emails highlighting these events and be sure to sign up early.

As we move into the second quarter, I encourage everyone to continue this incredible momentum. Your involvement, generosity, and enthusiasm are what make our organization so special. Together, we will continue to make a meaningful impact through volunteering, charitable giving, and strong connections across our industry. I look forward to another amazing quarter ahead.

7

The PTSD Foundation of America aims to bring hope and healing to veterans and their families suffering from the effects of combat-related post-traumatic stress.

Camp Hope is a 501(c)(3) organization that began as a grassroots effort in 2005 with a group of concerned volunteers who searched for homeless veterans on the streets of Houston with a vision and passion for drastically reducing the veteran suicide rate through programming and outreach services. In the past decade, 80,000 veterans were lost to suicide—20,000 more than the number of American soldiers killed in action in Vietnam. The Veterans Health Administration estimates that 44 veterans take their own lives daily.

Through our dedication to the mission, we have successfully grown into a nationally recognized non-profit known for assisting combat veterans and their families with the complexities of post-traumatic stress, changing the trajectory of their lives, and transforming them into thriving and productive members of society.

Learn more here.

R

Houston Insurance Day (HID) 2026 was another HUGE success! I don’t know how, but the HID committee puts on a better event every year and this year was no exception. With the theme, “Superhero’s”, we had a lot of superhero’s in the room!

It started with our luncheon speaker, Rebekah Gregory. She was a survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing and shared her moving story with us. 78+ surgeries! As she stated, everyone has bad things happen to them in their lives, but it is how you react and deal with them that makes all the difference! She chose to fight and she shared that story with us.

The next superhero’s are the members of the HID committee! They did a wonderful job of coordinating all of the events that make up HID, from the YIPS Happy Hour on Tuesday, to the event itself, to the lunch decorations to the new Wednesday Happy Hour after the show is over! Well done committee!

The next superhero’s are the 145 exhibitors. Every year I am amazed at the creativity of you guys when you decorate your booths! You guys knocked it out of the park again this year with all your Superhero items. We couldn’t have a successful HID without your support and we appreciate all that you do for IIAH each and every year!

The next superhero’s are the Houston Insurance Agent community. You guys came out in force this year and walked up and down all of the aisles to visit with our 145 exhibitors. You came out in record numbers as well, with total attendance this year at over 1,800 people!!! WOW!

The next superhero’s were two of our board members, Jesse Serna and Charles McDade. They were in charge of hosting the next generation of folks in our industry, the High School students from Alief ISD. There were over 40 kids that came out this year to learn all about the Insurance Industry. Jesse and Charles came up with a scavenger hunt for the students to learn all about our Industry.

And last but certainly not least are the superhero efforts of Ayla Comuyog and Shelby Hibbard. They work all year long to make sure that the event is the success it is every year. There are a lot of behind the scenes activities involved and they pull it off seamlessly!! Well done ladies!

Thanks again for a wonderful 2026 HID! We are already planning for 2027 and you can sign up now to get the “right” booth. Next year will see wider aisles for increased traffic flow, plus some other surprises that you will have to wait and see! Next year’s event will be here before we know it!!!

9

Exclusive Sponsors

Keynote Speaker

RT Specialty

Swag Bag Sponsor

Innovation Growth Specialty, LLC

Lanyard Sponsor

Amwins Access

Anchor Sponsor

Homeowners of America/Porch Insurance

Frosty Bar

ePay Policy

Coffee Bar

Marsh & McLennan Agency, LLC

WiFi Badge Sponsor

Univista Insurance

Mobile App Sponsor

Burns & Wilcox

Past Presidents

Utica National

11

Titanium Sponsors

Imperial PFS

Burns & Wilcox

CRC Group

Vintage Underwriters

12

Platinum Partner Sponsors

Brown & Riding

RT Specialty

Texas Mutual

WSG Specialty Underwriters

13

Patron Sponsors

Bridge Specialty

Chubb

Jencap Group

Travelers

WRIGHT Flood

14

Platinum Sponsors

Amerisafe

Ashley Wholesale Brokerage

Avla Insurance Company LLC

Berkshire Hathwaway GUARD Insurance Companies

Blitz Insurance Group

Bridge Specialty Group

Capital Premium Finance

Cara

CompScience

Eventual

FIRST Insurance Funding

Frank Winston Crum Insurance

Gainsco Auto Insurance

Geico

goto Premium Finance

Heritage Premium Assignment Company

Honor Capital

ia Blueprint LLC

ICW Group

Innovation Growth Specialty, LLC

IRONWOOD Business Consulting

Johnson & Johnson Insurance

Monarch Sky

Neptune Flood

Philadelphia Insurance

Prime

Progressive

RPS

RSI International

Service Master TRS Total Restoration Services

Summit Holdings

The Hartford

Tower Hill Specialty

Treaty Oak

VIVA Virtual Assistants

Wellington

XPT Specialty

Zenith Insurance Company

15

16

Gold Sponsors

Aon Programs

Applied Underwriters

Canopy Connect

Commonwealth Insurance

DOXA Insurance Holdings

Employers

First Connect Insurance Services

Fulcrum

Line Underwriters

NCMiC Group

Quomation Insurance Services, Inc.

Safepoint Insurance

Stonetrust Workers Compensation

Texas Security General Agency, LLC

Tokio Marine HCC - Surety Group

TXOGA

USG Insurance Services

Vertafore

WestCongress Insurance Services

XS Brokers

17

Silver Sponsors

Adams Insurance

Allied Trust

Applied Systems, Inc/EZ Lynx

Assurant

Bass Underwriters

Brecht & Associates

Great American Ins. Co. PropIMDivid

Mercury Insurance

National Partners Premium Finance Co.

One80 Insurance

SageSure

Service Insurance Companies

Standard Premium Finance

Swyfft

Tapco Underwriters

The Woodlands Insurance

Total Restoration

TSLA

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

53

54

We are incredibly grateful to all 145 exhibitors who help make HID the best in Texas+. We truly appreciate each of you and hope we have represented everyone with a photo. Without your support and participation, HID would not be what it is today. If we happened to miss a photo of your company, please accept our sincere apologies and know how thankful we are for you.

55

56

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Established in 1995 by Henry Vogel, EFG Insurance Agency, Inc. has built a reputation for adaptability, trust, and excellent client service. What began as a securities firm specializing in mutual funds has evolved into a full‑service, independent insurance agency serving clients across the state.

In its earliest days, the agency focused exclusively on financial services, helping individuals plan for their futures through mutual fund investments. Recognizing clients’ growing needs, the firm soon expanded into property and casualty insurance, initially concentrating on personal lines. That expansion proved to be a pivotal moment, leading to the addition of commercial insurance as well as life and health coverage, and creating a comprehensive portfolio designed to protect every aspect of a client’s financial wellbeing.

Following the passing of Henry in 2020, ownership of EFG Insurance Agency transitioned to his daughter, Susan Zipperer, ensuring the agency would continue operating with the same values, service philosophy, and client‑first approach on which it was built. Under her leadership, the agency has remained committed to preserving her father’s vision—maintaining strong client relationships, prioritizing personalized service, and continuing the legacy of integrity and excellence that has defined EFG since its founding.

Originally serving Harris County and surrounding counties, EFG Insurance Agency steadily expanded its footprint through dedication to service excellence and strong client relationships. Today, the agency proudly operates on a statewide level, assisting individuals, families, and businesses of all sizes with customized insurance solutions.

At the heart of EFG Insurance Agency’s success is a clear and unwavering mission: to provide excellent service and quality insurance products. As an independent agency, EFG is uniquely positioned to place clients first—offering choice, flexibility, and tailored coverage rather than one‑size‑fits‑all solutions. Each recommendation is made with the client’s long‑term financial protection in mind.

EFG Insurance Agency, Inc. specializes in a wide array of business and personal insurance solutions. With the responsibility of helping protect clients’ financial assets, the agency conducts business the way clients prefer— through personalized service, honest guidance, and trusted relationships. EFG takes pride in empowering clients to make informed decisions by providing clear explanations and thoughtful recommendations every step of the way.

The agency is comprised of eight dedicated agents, each of whom personally services their own clients. This structure ensures accountability, continuity, and a deep understanding of each client’s needs. Clients work directly with their agent who knows their business, family, and goals—resulting in a higher level of personalized service.

While EFG Insurance Agency may be considered a small agency by size, it is large enough to provide coverage for any size commercial or personal account. Its strength lies not only in its capabilities, but in its commitment to building long‑lasting relationships rooted in trust, integrity, and service.

After nearly three decades of growth and evolution, EFG Insurance Agency, Inc. remains focused on what has mattered since day one—protecting clients, adapting to their needs, and delivering exceptional value through personal attention and professional expertise.

57

AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT Many of us here at Vensure have extensive experience working with agencies in both the P&C and health insurance arena, and one thing is very clear: both have faced significant challenges in recent years with rising costs, making retaining clients and winning new business incredibly challenging. P&C, health insurance—regardless of which side of the fence you’re on—you have to really level up your game to stand out in today’s market.

What we’ve found is that partnering with Vensure, leveraging PEO master health plans along with a variety of flexible payroll and HR solutions, is allowing insurance agencies to dramatically increase retention, win business they would typically walk away from, protect their book of business from competitive threats, and increase their average revenue per client by 30 to 40%. It’s possibly the most powerful partnership opportunity out there in terms of impact to revenue and profitability.

We’re seeing brokers who have to deliver a 20% premium increase on workers’ comp insurance to a client be able to loop in Vensure and dramatically reduce costs in other areas of the business, leading to a net savings for the client while also increasing their infrastructure and ability to scale faster and more efficiently. We’re seeing examples such as a 100-person client company being referred to Vensure, saving over $600K to the referred business and netting a $40K per year recurring commission to the referring insurance agency. The ultimate win-win, and an incredible power move for the referring agency.

The competition in the insurance space is fierce, and hard markets with inflated premiums make it even more challenging. In order to thrive and stand out in such a time as this, leveraging strategic partnerships such as VPN, Vensure Partner Network, can have a dramatic effect on client retention, new client acquisition, and bottom-line profitability.

What we normally see are win rates around 25 to 30% in the insurance industry. What we are seeing is agencies partnering with Vensure boosting win rates consistently over 50%, often averaging closer to 67%.

From all we see from our seat, the insurance market is going to continue to be quite challenging over the course of 2026. A couple of things we know for sure: the insurance market is only going to continue to get more competitive, and those who find themselves leading the charge are the ones who are able to create clear separation.

59

60

We are proud to recognize Brittany Laws with ServiceMaster TRS as the 2024–2025 IIAH Volunteer of the Year.

Brittany’s dedication to serving others is evident in the time she gives to organizations such as Literacy Now, The Women’s Home Cottage Shop, Citizens for Animal Protection, and the Ronald McDonald House. Her reliability, enthusiasm, and genuine passion for helping the community have made a meaningful impact.

Although Brittany was unable to attend the event, her wonderful colleagues accepted the award on her behalf as her bundle of joy arrived a little early and she was spending that special time with her new baby.

Please join us in congratulating Brittany on this well-deserved recognition.

At Houston Insurance Day 2026, the Independent Insurance Agents of Houston (IIAH) gave back by donating meals to Kids’ Meals. The organization matched the number of luncheon attendees with meals for local children—providing over 500 meals.

Kids’ Meals delivers free, healthy meals to preschool-aged children in Houston facing food insecurity. It costs about $2 to provide a meal, making community support like this vital to helping feed local kids.

Through this effort, Houston Insurance Day once again demonstrated how the local insurance community continues to give back while coming together as an industry.

61

This year, the Independent Insurance Agents of Houston (IIAH) hosted three happy hours in the Wine Garden at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, reserving a tent on three different nights for members to gather. The events gave agents and industry partners a chance to stop by, network, enjoy some wine, and take in the rodeo atmosphere together.

The casual setting made it easy for members to connect, catch up with colleagues, and meet new faces while enjoying one of Houston’s favorite traditions. A special thank you to our sponsors, Texas Mutual and Berkshire Hathaway GUARD, for helping make these events possible. IIAH appreciates everyone who joined us and helped make the evenings a great success.

63

64

Recognizing Growth Sandee Harding has been an invaluable member of the Phly family for 20 years, dedicating her expertise and passion to the Commercial Lines Underwriting Division as a Senior Underwriter II.

Sandee’s journey began in Huntsville, Texas, where she grew up and still resides. She graduated from Sam Houston State University with a finance degree, which laid the foundation for her successful career.

This month, Sandee achieved a significant milestone by passing her final test, earning the prestigious CPCU designation. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishments and grateful for her continued commitment to excellence.

65

HAVE YOU HEARD? Terry Mace is retiring from Utica National Insurance Group!

It’s time!!!! I began my career in 1978 as a receptionist for Boley, Featherston, Huffman and Deal in Wichita Falls, Texas. A “friend” got me the job. As the saying goes “once you get in the industry, you never get out!” Honestly, I never wanted to. Through this 48 year journey, I bounced between agencies and carriers until 1995 when I began my first marketing job. To say I found my home is an understatement.

With God’s guidance and grace and a wonderful friendship base in this industry I will officially retire March 31, 2026.

Many wonderful folks have made this journey a blessing for me. I do not leave with sadness as I know I will continue to see and talk to you as I have over the many years we have been friends and colleagues! While there is some sadness at leaving an industry that has been very good to me and for me, I feel the need to explore what God has in store for me outside of this industry.

Thank you to all of you have touched my life and taught me lessons. Both good and bad! Those who are mentors, those who were and are a tremendous support system and those who made the journey so worthwhile! Thank you, thank you! There are way too many to list, know that I love and appreciate you all.

To those of you looking for a rewarding, never dull and never static career please consider the Insurance industry. Explore the numerous possibilities and call me if you have any questions or want to discuss further.

With so much love and affection

Terry

2nd Timothy 4:7

I have fought the good fight, I have finally finished the race, I have kept the faith.

35

66

IMPACT is IIAT’s political action committee (PAC). It’s the voice of independent agents at the Texas Capitol, ensuring that your interests and your business are protected.

When legislators make decisions that affect the insurance industry, IMPACT makes sure independent agents have a seat at the table. Every dollar contributed goes directly to supporting pro-business candidates and policies that safeguard your profession and your ability to serve your clients.

What does IMPACT do?

Advocates for independent agents by proposing and supporting legislation that protects your business and your clients.

Opposes harmful legislation that could threaten the independent agency model.

Increases awareness among lawmakers about the unique challenges and benefits of independent insurance agencies.

Ensures consumer choice and fair competition in the Texas insurance market.

Povides critical updates on legislative actions that impact your business.

Why should I support IMPACT?

Your Business Depends on It. Laws and regulations shape the industry you work in—your contribution helps elect leaders who support independent agents.

100% of Every Dollar Stays in Texas. IMPACT contributions go directly to state and local candidates who understand the importance of independent insurance agencies.

Strength in Numbers. The more agents who contribute, the stronger our collective voice becomes at the Texas Capitol.

We Have a Goal to Reach. Help us hit our 2024 goal of $250,000—every contribution, no matter the size, helps protect the future of independent insurance agencies.

What is a Political Action Committee?

A political action committee or PAC is a group that is formed to give money to the political campaigns of people who are likely to make decisions that would benefit the group's interests.

Facts about IMPACT

All fundraising efforts throughout the state are administered by the IMPACT Board, IIAT governmental affairs staff and IMPACT Regional Vice Presidents.

Funds are disbursed on a nonpartisan basis to both Democrats and Republicans and are based on issues that promote IIAT’s legislative agenda.

IMPACT is one of the largest trade association PACs in Texas.

67

The 34th Annual Charity Benefit Crawfish Boil, held on March 26, 2026, was a resounding success, bringing together community members for an evening filled with flavor, fun, and philanthropy. With more than 160 guests in attendance, the event delivered on its promise of great food, lively entertainment, and meaningful impact.

Guests enjoyed heaping servings of perfectly seasoned crawfish, expertly prepared by crowd-favorite vendor Clutch City Crawfish, whose signature boil once again proved to be a highlight of the evening. Alongside the delicious fare, attendees sipped on refreshing drinks and took part in a variety of activities that kept the energy high throughout the night.

One of the most anticipated traditions, the crawfish races, drew cheers and laughter as participants competed for bragging rights. Meanwhile, the silent auction and liquor wagon ticket sales offered guests the chance to take home exciting prizes—all while contributing to a greater cause.

Most importantly, the event successfully raised funds in support of three vital local organizations: Camp Hope, Child Advocates, and Covenant House. These beneficiaries continue to make a profound difference in the lives of individuals and families in our community, and the generosity shown by attendees helps further their important missions.

As the evening came to a close, it was clear that this year’s boil was more than just a gathering—it was a celebration of community spirit and shared purpose. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended, donated, and helped make the 34th annual event such a memorable and impactful occasion

69

70

71

72

73

74

75

76

77

CRAWFISH

IN MEMORIAM Paul Norman Botker

05.11.1954 - 02.08.2025 Paul Botker, 71, of Spring, TX, passed away after a brief illness on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at his home in Spring, TX.

Paul Norman Botker was born on May 11, 1954, in Polson, Montana, the youngest child of Norman and Dorothy (Vestal) Botker. When the family left Montana, they lived briefly in Reedsburg, Wisconsin and then settled in Le Mars, Iowa in 1959 where he graduated from Le Mars Central High School in 1972. Paul continued his education at the University of South Dakota - Vermillion. He graduated in 1976, worked at Wells Dairy in order to purchase his dream car, a red Triumph TR-7, and then moved to

Houston, TX to avoid ever living through another Iowa winter. There he found the love of his life, Sherri Hornquist. They were united in marriage on February 18, 1984, and later welcomed their daughter, Katelynn Elizabeth, on May 28, 1996.

Paul launched his successful insurance career in 1977 at Continental Insurance Company as a

Commercial Lines Underwriter. He also worked for Commercial Union Insurance company, where he met Sherri.

Paul then jumped to the agency side of the business as a broker and producer. At the time of his death, Paul was the President of Blackstone Insurance Services.

Paul enjoyed the simple things in life but also loved to travel. His visits to faraway places like Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and Europe were just a few of the adventures in his life. He loved sports and played high school football and baseball as well as for the Le Mars Orioles, a slow pitch softball team. He enjoyed golfing when he could find a little time to squeeze in a round. He also enjoyed playing in the Houston Open Pro-Am a few times.

Paul is survived by his wife, Sherri and daughter Katie and boyfriend, Jesse Surovik; sisters: Jill Wells of Le Mars and her sons Michael (Kristin), Brian and Neal (Kendra), Peggy Dickman (Steve) and their sons Nicholas and Daniel, all of Brunsville, Iowa; and many extended family members.

Paul is preceded in death by his father, Norman Botker; mother, Dorothy (Vestal) Botker; paternal grandparents: Elmer and Violet Botker; maternal grandparents: Samuel and Alma Vestal.

79

THE LAST WHO HAS...

WORD Blake Wellmann Where you work?

Wellmann Insurance Agency, Inc. What sound do you love?

My 10 month old laughing If you could paint a picture of any scenery you’ve seen before, what would you paint?

Sunset on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico What was the first thing you bought with your own money?

Probably something to do with video games or parts for my truck

What is your pet peeve in traffic?

Slow drivers in the left lane and people not using their blinker Do you have any hidden talents?

Unfortunately, not that I know of.

What is your favorite jelly bean flavor?

Cherry What is your LEAST favorite electronic device?

My phone, because of how reliant we are on them What is the longest car trip you have ever taken?

Brenham, TX to Durango, CO

If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be?

Well, I am only 28, so I would say 28 has been a year I have been quite happy.

Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?

Yes

What did you do growing up that got you into trouble?

What was your favorite childhood TV show?

Drake and Josh

I broke a lot of four wheelers, tractors, etc. doing stupid stuff.

What is something you learned in the last week?

The importance of keeping your head up. Everyday or week isn’t going to be good, but it gets better

41 43 81

Ninjas or pirates?

Ninjas

Are you a collector of anything?

Shot Glasses from every where I have traveled At a movie theater, which armrest is yours?

Right

ADVERTISE WITH US!

Deb McRae

713-412-0794 debmcrae@aol.com ADVERTISER INDEX RSI INTERNATIONAL

82