Booth Real Estate & Insurance Agency, Inc.

Introduction: Our story: In 1953, George E. Booth, a Vinton County National Bank employee, started looking for a way to provide more and supplement his salary for his wife, Dorothy, and their four children. George's father, David R. Booth, relocated from Wilkesville to McArthur after fire destroyed the family home earlier that year. David was seeking for light work to fill his time. Noting that no one, at that time, was selling real estate in the county, George and David approached the Central Realty Company of Columbus to propose an alliance. On their first attempt, David and George passed their licensing examinations, and in George's house, they established a branch office of Central Realty. Dorothy earned her license to sell real estate within two years and joined her father-in-law and husband in the venture. By 1955, it seemed wise to sell casualty insurance as well, so Dorothy and George earned licenses to sell insurance. They affiliated with the Grange Mutual Casualty Company of Columbus in 1960, a union that stays intact today. Having founded an insurance business, the team required an office outside of the home. So as to operate the business full-time, Dorothy retired from her teaching position. The office moved in 1967 to its current location on Market Street in downtown McArthur. That same year, George and Dorothy's son, David M. Booth, joined the firm. Janet Booth Bolender, their daughter, joined the succeeding year as insurance agent and office manager. The alliance with Central Realty ended and the real estate business incorporated in 1975. In 1983, they established a second firm in Jackson, concentrating on insurance services. That firm has since been sold to Terry Radekin, a long-time employee. David Randall Booth, the son of David M. Booth, joined the firm as an insurance agent and real estate seller in 1993. The younger David is the fourth generation to enter into the family business. Ruby Booth, David M. Booth's wife, signed on in as insurance agent and administrative support in 2002.