In Memoriam
I hate that the need arises to write these, obviously, and particularly in this instance as the industry and Broker World has lost three good friends recently.
Ray Morgan was born in Des Moines January 22, 1945, and we lost him September 4, 2024. He attended Drake University in Des Moines before embarking on his insurance career in 1967 as a junior underwriter for General United Life, where he rose through the ranks until leaving to pursue sales with Bankers Life in 1979, and Beaty & Associates from 1980-1983.
Ray truly entered the brokerage industry’s awareness in 1983 when he joined Executive Life, continued with Aurora National Life Assurance when the State of California sold Executive Life to them in 1992, and attended his first NAILBA conference.
Ray became a great friend to Broker World after joining Empire General in 1995, joining great BW friends Doug Adam and Doug Huls until 2007, and then continuing to serve clients with West Coast Life until he retired in 2008 after 41 years of exemplary service to the industry.
Good friend and associate Dug Huls remembers: “Ray applied his insurance experience to set the bar high for providing sales support to agents and general agents in the independent brokerage space. Agents that had the opportunity to work with Ray were quickly able to see his desire for all producers to have success at the point-of-sale. His knowledge of sales concepts, both basic and advanced, his expertise of products, skill to generate illustrations and presentations, coupled with his assistance in presenting solutions. Ray would give 100 percent effort with no limitations to see success in others.
“Ray will be missed by all who knew him. His unique sense of humor and ability to make the complex seem simple. A sincere hello, handshake or occasionally a high five. Producers, business co-workers, neighbors and friends, all knew it was a lifetime relationship. (And for a few, his candy corn with peanuts mix will always be remembered.)”
For me, I remember his great smile and the ease with which he’d break into a boisterous laugh. I was fortunate to spend time with him at various industry meetings from time to time, but was further privileged that Empire General was in the KC area and Doug, Doug and Ray would occasionally swing by our office to catch up and shoot the “breeze.” It was virtually impossible to be around Ray and the two Dougs without feeling much the better for it. Ray was clearly one of the best of us.[SPH]
Bill Shaw was born February 1, 1927 and left us on October 27, 2024. Born in Houston, TX, Bill spent his entire life in Houston until his retirement led him to Galveston where he spent his final years. He loved sports and lettered in football and basketball at Lamar High School. He played five positions in football–three on offense: guard, center, and quarterback, and two on defense: safety and linebacker. He initially turned down a basketball scholarship to Texas A&M to enlist in the Navy because “It was the right thing for a young man to do during World War II.” Bill truly loved his country and was proud to serve in the Navy. He served on the submarine Bowfin, a fleet attack submarine which is part of the Pearl Harbor Museum in Hawaii. Following his service in the Navy, he attended and played basketball at Texas A&M from 1946-1950, graduating in 1950. Bill loved A&M sports…a true, proud Aggie who bled maroon.
Bill lived a full life. He was married to the love of his life, Jo Ann, for 49 years. One of his favorite statements was how bright and beautiful she is. Bill established the Shaw Company in 1972, becoming one of Texas’ most prominent BGAs. Jo Ann later joined the company. In marriage and in business they were together and enjoyed many years of success and travels that took them to many countries as well as around the world. One of their favorite trips was visiting the Bowfin in Hawaii to commemorate his service, to see the rack he slept in while serving and to hear his Captain one last time on a tour of the submarine.
Bill and Jo Ann were fixtures at NAILBA for all of Bill’s career. I found them to be exceptionally friendly and a delight to spend time with. Bill always had a few interesting stories about the brokerage business from before I was even old enough to grasp the true significance of the great work he did (and all of you do). Both my wife and I annually marveled at the glamour of the Shaws as they presented themselves for the NAILBA Mooers Award Dinner. Bill was truly one of the Grand Masters of NAILBA, and of our brokerage industry, and a heck of a nice guy.[SPH]
William R. Ryno, Jupiter, FL, and Glenview, IL, passed away October 30, 2024, peacefully in his Glenview home surrounded by his loving family.
Bill was born in Rahway, NJ on May 1st, 1932. His parents moved to the Chicago area in Winnetka in 1940. He schooled at Crow Island School, New Trier High School and graduated from Denison University in 1954. During all those years he played various sports namely baseball at New Trier HS and Denison U as well as football at New Trier HS. He also played many years of ice hockey from childhood through his young adulthood.
Following his graduation from Denison he entered the life insurance business as an agent with Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Evanston, IL. In 1969 he started his own life insurance brokerage general agency, W. R. Ryno & Co., and developed the business into one of the most prominent in the region. In 2002 Bill and his son B.J. merged with several other life insurance brokerage agencies, and ultimately sold to a national firm.
During his working years he was very active in the insurance industry as a member of the National Association of Life Underwriters in the Chicago chapter, CALU. He was on various boards at the local and state level, serving as President in 1965 for CALU. While serving as President he ran an annual charity fundraiser called Hike for Hearts and continued serving for 10 years for the Chicago Heart Association, helping raise over $250,000. He was on the organizing committee with six other brokerage agencies to form the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA) in 1976 where he served as Treasurer. (Rumor has it he got the treasurer nod because he was willing to put the bar tab on his credit card.) He organized the very first NAILBA conference in Chicago at the Hyatt O’Hare.
Following his retirement he continued to be active at his club Valley Lo in Glenview, IL and at his club Jonathan’s Landing in Jupiter, FL. He enjoyed playing golf in both Illinois and Florida, spending time with friends, family and his wife Trish.
I remember Bill as a great brokerage mind but with a humility and ease that made him great to be around. His laugh was infectious, his willingness to share his vast knowledge freely given, and his warm appreciation of anyone he met forged a life that benefitted our industry greatly and leaves behind many many brokerage professionals, and all at Broker World,who feel very fortunate to have called him friend.[SPH]