By Jordan Studer
CCN Reporter
BUCYRUS — For 50 years Pritchard Insurance Agency has been providing insurance to the community and adding their personal touch of customer care. To show their customers that they are appreciated, Wednesday was celebrated as Customer Appreciation Day.
Although the day was full of excitement for Pritchard Insurance, it also carried a bit of a bittersweet taste according to current owner Randy Pritchard. When congratulating Pritchard on 50 years of business and asking for some history on the company, he did not hesitate to give the whole background, “starting out with the sad part,” he said.
Pritchard explained that his father, the very man who started it all, Ralph Eugene Pritchard, would have been 85-years-old on July 19, but this past June, “the good Lord said, ‘we need you up here’,” R. Pritchard explained.
Although the passing of R.E. Pritchard left a gap in the company, the legacy will continue to live on.
R.E. Pritchard grew up in North Robinson, always finding jobs to keep himself busy. After nineteen years with General Electric, he decided he was ready for a change of pace and began working for and apprenticed under L.P. Auck.
Upon Auck’s passing in 1968, R.E. Pritchard was given the opportunity to purchase the agency and make it his own. It was then that Pritchard Insurance Agency was born, and has been growing ever since.
R. Pritchard explained that for many of the beginning years, the agency was ran out of their home as he grew up. Shortly after graduating high school, he became an insurance agent himself and began working with his father in 1978.
In 1980, the company found a new permanent location for their agency, their current location on N. Sandusky Ave. Ever since, the business has continued to grow as more family members and friends have joined in to build the agency.
As an independent agency, they pride themselves in their ability to search for the best insurance rates for their customers.
R. Pritchard assures that despite the technological growth, Pritchard Insurance will continue to hold true to their mission to value their customers with the personal and face-to-face interactions that are had.
“I enjoy talking to people. I enjoy trying to help people out if I can… I sure go to bat for a lot of clients,” R. Pritchard explained.
He continued on to say their passion will continue to be passed on, “Part of our legacy has departed from us, we will still carry on the Pritchard name and Pritchard Insurance. Through thick and thin we’re here to support and help and hope our customers and clients stand behind us.”
For information on how Pritchard Insurance may be able to serve your insurance needs, call their office at 419-562-7942, or visit their website .