Haas & Wilkerson Insurance history

Their partnership was christened, and Haas & Wilkerson Insurance was born in 1939.

Subsequently, Ralph entered military service and was discharged at the end of World War II. In 1946, shortly after Ralph’s return from the war, Al had $27K in Outdoor Showmen’s insurance premiums on the books—20 carnival accounts and a staff of two.

So, they focused on the development of the carnival insurance business and, by 1952, they had developed a gross premium volume of $243K. Some of the early clients were Sol’s Liberty Shows, Jack Ruback, Reynolds and Wells, L.J. Heth Shows, O.C. Buck Shows, and Art B. Thomas.

In 1955, the two came together and consolidated their respective activities of writing insurance in the carnival field under the name of Haas Wilkerson Wohlberg.

Philip Coulson (Phil), Ralph’s son-in-law, joined in 1971.

In 1975, Bill obtained the endorsement of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) to develop a fair program.

The first general liability policy was written July 1, 1976, for the Dubuque County Fair and, as a result, fairs began to approach Haas & Wilkerson Insurance about their risk management needs.

In 1983, a new specialty insurance focus was initiated when Specialty Program Insurors (SPI) began serving the equine (horse) industry by insuring rodeos with an accident and health policy.

Bill was elected CEO in 1986, and Philip became president and oversaw the amusements division.

In 1999, William Ralph Wilkerson IV (Ryan), son of Bill, began his full-time career serving local commercial insurance accounts and learning about the specialty industries the agency serviced.

In 2001, Phil and his wife, Jan (Wilkerson) Coulson, decided to take early retirement with Jan selling her interest to her brother, Bill, who became the sole owner of the agency.