A Final Tribute to Tom Johnson

The Florida Association of Insurance Agents announced Tom Johnson, its executive vice president from 1948 to 1986 died on April 8. Johnson passed away in his sleep with his family and a few close friends at his bedside.

Johnson, who was at FAIA’s helm for 37 years, was a pioneer in Florida’s insurance industry. His death marks the end of an era for FAIA and the entire agency system. During his tenure, FAIA grew from a 560-member club, into a multimillion-dollar trade association whose Tallahassee meetings were sometimes attended by 15 or more national CEOs, and its conventions were bigger than some national trade groups.

Some of Johnson’s accomplishments include: FAIA’s first lobbyist; author of many Florida’s insurance laws; drafted the strongest Agents’ Qualification Law in the country; the first anti-coercion statute; anti-rebating statute; a controlled business prohibition; and the strongest statutory prohibition against banks selling insurance. He wrote the law requiring driver education in all Florida high schools. He brought Florida a uniquely strong no-fault law, wage loss workers’ compensation law, and he worked with the FAIA Board in bringing the country’s first automation to independent agents with a batch-by-mail accounting system and later by providing the first electronically updated multi-company rating system in America.

Johnson pushed to develop numerous publications as useful tools to help independent agents compete with direct writers. He put together the country’s first state association education department, with a director and a full time staff of educators.

Johnson established the Florida Manifestos–the first of a kind coalition between agents and companies that focused attention on the agency system’s loss of market share to direct writers. He toured the country challenging ISO to simplify its procedures and to reduce its 22 rate manuals for independent agents.

In 1986, FAIA established the Tom C. Johnson Scholarship award. It is presented annually to the FSU insurance student who best exemplifies Tom’s commitment to high-quality insurance education, willingness to challenge popular opinion, and penchant for leadership. And, after a brief dedication ceremony a few years ago, FAIA named it’s building after Tom Johnson, the man who commissioned its construction in 1971.

But, of all his efforts on behalf of independent agents, Johnson would be most proud of his military service. After becoming the highest ranking ROTC cadet in Florida he joined the army and retired when he was 28 to attend the University of Florida on the GI bill. Recently, he went to France, where he was recognized during the WW II reunion for his service in the U.S. Army as a 26 year old Major fighting on the beaches of Normandy during the D-Day invasion.

Tom Johnson’s contributions to the insurance industry will endure, as will the admiration of his family, friends and associates.