The History of Underwritting

[shawnmwalker]

Enjoy a little real life example of what Underwriting Used to look like- ELVIS is Involved! (If you choose to watch, I just want to say, this was filmed before the Super Bowl Half time show and all the conversation it has sparked.)


The History of Underwriting:

https://youtu.be/0kD5G9Y9nXA

 

[InsCommentary]

My insurance career started with ISO before property class rating. I worked in their Memphis office for two years and we got a request to set the insurance rate on an office building at Graceland, actually just a converted garage.

My appointment was with Vernon Presley, Elvis's dad. Someone picked me up in a golf cart at the gate. If you're not familiar with Graceland, there are tourists standing at the gate basically 24/7. They wondered who I was and if I was there to see Elvis who was home at the time.

When I got to the little office building, there was a sign on the door that said, "If you have business here, take care of it and get out." Vernon made it clear that this was sound advice for my insurance inspection. And, though I expected Elvis to invite me inside for a fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich and possibly a new Cadillac, that didn't happen and I did my job and split.

But not before stepping in a pile of horse manure. Elvis kept horses on the property at the time. If I had had the presence of mind, when the golf cart guy took me back down to the gate, I probably could have sold the shoe with Genuine Elvis Horse Poop on it for $250.

 

[shawnmwalker]

That makes Two Great Elvis Insurance Stories on One thread!

 

[InsCommentary]

Let's make it three...

My aunt who lived in Memphis had a flat tire one night in an area of Memphis not known for its safety. This is before cell phones. She wasn't sure what to do when a car pulled up behind her and two men got out and approached her in the car.
One of them was slim with black hair and a "charming" smile. The other was red headed. The charming guy was very polite and said he and his friend would be happy to change her tire if she had a spare. She did and they did. Both Elvis and his buddy Red West.

 

[shawnmwalker]

Well that sounds like an insurable young man! Who cares how that young man danced!