 James Peak Elbert, 72, of Galveston,
Texas, died suddenly on Sunday, October 11,
2009, at his home.
James was born in Pampa, Texas, on February
5, 1937, and grew up in Lake Jackson, Texas. After working in the property
and casualty insurance industry in Galveston, James purchased the remnants of
his father's insurance agency in Lake Jackson and has operated and grown
that agency in Lake Jackson, Brazoria, and Galveston since 1995.
He received his undergraduate degree from
Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and Divinity Degree from the
Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, Dallas.
He
was past President of the Texas Chapter of the Alliance for Insurance
Education, former Executive Board Member of the Independent Insurance
Agents of Texas, Board Member and Chairman of the Texas Windstorm
Insurance Association, and the Texas Fair Plan.
He was active in the Boy
Scouts of America, the Rotary Club of Galveston, and the Mayor's
Roundtable on Housing. He is listed annually in Marquis Who's Who in
America.
In 2007, he received the Independent Insurance Agent's annual
Drex Foreman Award. The Drex Forman Award is one given annually in
recognition of a lifetime of service to both the insurance industry and
community.
Survivors include his wife Ann Elbert; his
son Michael Elbert and wife Mary and grandson Jonathan of Panama City,
Florida; his son Steven Elbert of Lake Jackson; and his daughter Jennifer
Fudge and husband Adrian of Austin. He is also survived by special family
members - nephew Larry Grant of Austin; sister-in-law Marie Smith from
Dallas; and parents-in-law David and Peggy Smith of Galveston. |
| EDUCATION: |
|
|
Brazosport High School, Freeport, Texas
Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas, BA
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas MDIV
|
1955
1959
1962 |
| INSURANCE INDUSTRY: |
|
|
Licenses:
|
|
|
Permanent Local Recording Agent 05-01
Agent for Legal Reserve Life Insurance Company 01-01
Group II Insurance Agent 02-00
Liability Risk Manager 18-00
|
|
|
Designation
- Certified
Insurance Counselor
|
1979 |
|
Texas Association of Insurance
Agents
|
|
|
Windstorm Committee
Chairman
Chairman of the Year
Liaison to Windstorm Pool Board
Board of Directors
|
1988-1994
1992-1994
1994
1993-1995
1995-1998 |
|
Texas Department of Insurance
|
|
|
Windstorm Depopulation Committee
Advisory Building Code Committee
|
1992-2009
1993-2009 |
|
Texas Windstorm Insurance
Association
|
|
|
Board of Directors
|
1998-2009 |
|
Brazosport Association of
Insurance Agents
|
1971-1974 |
|
Galveston Insurance Board,
President
|
1989-1990 |
|
Commercial Union Ins. Co.
|
|
|
Agents Advisory Council, President
|
1982-1983 |
|
Texas Chapter of Certified
Insurance Counselors, President
|
1992 |
|
Elbert Insurance Agency, Lake
Jackson, VP
|
1971-1975 |
|
Bennett-Elbert Company, Lake
Jackson, VP
|
1976-1983 |
|
Jahn-Austin Insurance Agency,
Galveston, VP
|
1983-1996 |
|
Insurco, Inc., Lake Jackson &
Brazoria, President
|
1995-2009 |
| COMMUNITY
ACTIVITIES: |
|
|
Boy Scouts of America
|
|
|
Quintana District Chairman
Quintana District Award of Merit
Island District Chairman
Council Board
Silver Beaver
Eagle Board of Review, Chairman
|
1980-1981
1979
1984-1985
1980-2009
1985
1995-1996 |
|
Rotary Club of Galveston Island
|
|
|
President
Paul Harris Fellow
Rotarian of the Year
Board Member of the Year
|
1992
1989
1989
1991 |
|
Brazosport Chamber of Commerce,
Board
|
1980-1981 |
|
Galveston Chamber of Commerce,
Board
|
1992-1995 |
|
Junior Achievement of Brazoria Co.
Board
|
1981-1983 |
|
Lake Jackson Little League
|
1974-1977 |
|
Lake Jackson Teenage League, VP,
Mgr.
|
1978-1979 |
|
Lake Jackson Babe Ruth League,
Coach
|
1980-1981 |
|
Galveston Housing Finance
Corporation, President
|
1994-1995 |
|
City of Galveston Property Finance
Authority, President
|
1994-1995 |
|
Mayor's Roundtable on Housing
|
1994-1995 |
|
Marquis Who’s Who in the South
and Southwest
|
1993 |
|
Marquis Who’s Who in America
|
1995-2009 |
Drex Foreman Award
|
2007 |