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To provide outstanding service, protection, and value to our:
- Clients
- Insurance Company Partners
- Community
Greensboro’s fastest growing (Craft Insurance Group) and most established (The Insurance Center of N.C.) agencies merged in 2005 to create Craft Insurance Center, Inc.., employing over 40 experienced employees, over 100 Insurance Carrier relationships, and 40 million in insurance premium we have become one of the largest agencies in Central North Carolina. Both agencies have a rich history of service to their clients and community.
 FHC and WHC in Battleground Office |
Craft Insurance Agency began in 1934 during the depths of the Depression and from the hard work of Floyd Hugh Craft. Floyd Hugh was a Company Special Agent for Northwestern Mutual Fire Insurance Co. and was well know within the State as an honest and dependable insurance professional.
The Cooper-Shaw Agency in Greensboro became insolvent and its partners resigned. The creditor insurance companies asked Floyd Hugh to step in and run the Agency. If he could bring the books in balance the insurance companies would let him take the agency over. After several years, Floyd Hugh accomplished this and became sole owner of the agency.
Floyd Hugh was National President of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Agents in 1944 and co-founder of the Marshall-Craft General Agency, which later brought Auto Owners Insurance Company into North Carolina.
W.H. “Bill” Craft joined the agency in 1953 after graduation from UNC and serving in the Coast Guard. Due to illness Floyd Hugh retired in 1960 and Bill ran the agency for many years as sole owner. Bill is well known and recognized for his efforts in beautification and recreation in Greensboro. He has received the Greensboro Beautiful Girard Award, Greensboro Chamber Dolley Madison Award, and the Boy Scout Silver Beaver Award, among others.
The third generation joined the agency in 1985 with David Craft. His Brother Daniel followed in 1992.
The agency grew and prospered in the 1980’and and 90’s with the purchase of Seawell Realty and Insurance, insurance operation, K& M Insurance Agency, and Foust Insurance Agency. Tyler Crooker joined the agency in 1995 and became a partner in 1999.
With the merger with The Insurance Center of N.C. in 2005, Craft Insurance Center has become one of the key insurance and benefit providers in North Carolina.
The Insurance Center of NC, Inc. one of the oldest and largest Insurance firms in the state, is steeped in a rich Greensboro tradition whose beginnings can be traced back to 1892.
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The company in its present form, however, actually began over 80 years ago when J. Elwood Mitchell, Sr. was a special agent for the Fire Association of Philadelphia, one of the nation's oldest insurance companies. He later joined the insurance department of the old Southern Real Estate Company. When the parent firm went bankrupt, he bought the insurance department.
In 1925 Mitchell and A.K. Moore, Sr., formed the Moore - Mitchell Company; Mitchell later bought out his partner who concentrated on real estate. Their firm had been in the Moore Arcade (later Stafford Arcade), and later the site of Gate City Savings and Loan.
To trace the other main branch of The Insurance Center of NC, Inc., turn back to 1917. Fielding L. Fry had worked for Paul W. Schenck, Sr., general agent for General Fire and Accident Insurance Company. Schenck sold the agency to Fry, who gave it his name.
By 1961, the Fry and Mitchell agencies were next-door neighbors in the Jefferson Standard Building. That year the two agencies merged and became Mitchell - Fry Insurance Agency, Inc.
Continuing its rapid expansion, the agency bought Phil R. Carlton, Inc., four years later. The next year Mitchell - Fry moved to 628 Summit Avenue. Simpson Schenck, who had become president upon Fry's retirement, remained until 1973, when Reed Devane became president. Devane retired in 1979, and devotes his time to civic activities. Both he and Fry have been presidents of the Greensboro Historical Museum. Fry was mayor of Greensboro in the 1940s. Roger Blackwood succeeded Devane as president in 1979.
In 1982, Daniel J. Fetzer became president upon the retirement of Roger Blackwood. Dan had joined the agency in 1973 after working with Insurance Company of North American (INA). He also served with the Greensboro Jaycees for many years and as President in 1978. The partners included J. Elwood Mitchell, Jr. who served as Chairman of the Board until his retirement in 1993. Upon Elwood Mitchell's retirement in 1993, Wayland V. Moore, Jr. and William Eugene Smith became partners. Wayland Moore had joined the agency in 1980 after working with Great American Insurance Company as a commercial underwriter and agency marketing manager. William Smith had joined the agency in 1989 after working in claims with Fireman's Fund Insurance Company and in marketing with a national brokerage company.
The Insurance Center of NC, Inc. is one of the few companies that continue to thrive and grow into a third century. We base this on our rich history and strong foundation. With the merger with Craft Insurance Group in 2005, Craft Insurance Center has become one of the key insurance and benefit providers in North Carolina.