Profile
In 1897, Mr. J.M. Higgins helped his three sons start new businesses in Hopkinsville; one a pharmacist, one a liquor wholesaler, and the smartest son, an insurance agent. From 1897 until the late 1960’s, Mr. Archie Higgins operated an insurance agency at 700 South Main Street in Hopkinsville, KY. The agency was located on the second floor where the Fletcher building now stands.
In 1959, a young insurance adjuster applied for a job. Despite being turned down several times, Billy Radford persisted and became an insurance agent. In 1969 Billy Radford and John Blane joined forces to purchase Higgins.
Over the next decade, Higgins continued to experience significant growth. During this time, they moved from 800 South Virginia Street and purchased the Jesse V. Keith Agency. In that time, Sterling Crawford became an insurance agent and partner before his untimely death in 1978.
The progression of the agency continued when John’s son, Malcolm Blane, joined the business in 1978, followed by Billy’s son, Wynn Radford, in 1979. In 1982 Malcolm and Wynn purchased the agency from their fathers, beginning a new era for Higgins Insurance. Over the next 3 decades, Higgins transformed from a small, local provider of primarily personal lines insurance to an agency known as a regional leader with national reach.