Adams Eaddy & Associates came into existence on January 1, 1980 in a tiny two-room office located on the second floor of a converted house at 2606 Devine Street, Columbia, South Carolina with founding shareholders Hal Adams, Karen Burns, and Bill Eaddy. Against the backdrop of an uncertain economy, the three began to take on the established insurance firms making use of new technology and innovati
ve insurance products underwritten by the Insurance Company of North America and Chubb & Son. Their hard work, youthful exuberance, and success soon began to attract the attention of both new customers and competitor insurers and their business and portfolio of insurance company partners grew. To support its growth, the agency relocated to 2911 Devine Street in 1981, 2717 Devine Street in 1985, and 1100 Shirley Street in 1989. None of the moves have taken Adams Eaddy & Associates more than a few blocks from its original home in the pleasant, tree-lined area of Columbia known as Shandon. Along with growth in the first decade came many changes for Adams Eaddy & Associates. In 1983 Karen Burns left the firm to pursue other interests. Then in 1985 the assets of Tate-Garrick Insurance Agency were purchased by the firm. Soon thereafter the operations of Hardy Insurance Agency were combined with Adams Eaddy & Associates. That was followed in 1988 by the addition of Dubose Stuckey Stewart. Change and growth continued in the 1990’s with the addition of support staff and both new and experienced salespeople. In 1992 Hal Adams began a new venture leaving Bill Eaddy as sole stockholder. Then in 1993 Adams Eaddy acquired the Hunter Dickson Agency. 1993 was also the year that Adams Eaddy & Associates became a major player in the construction insurance and bond market with the creation of a Contract Surety Department. The latter part of the decade saw unprecedented growth as we increased both our market share and our company representation. From the year 2000 to present, Adams Eaddy & Associates has continued to grow. A major emphasis in recent years has been in the commitment of resources to our Life Insurance and Employee Benefits Department. With our staff and company representation, we have the expertise and the resources to meet all of the life, disability, long term care, and health insurance and retirement planning needs of our business and individual clients. Although our staff remains at about forty employees, new technology allows us to grow bigger and more efficient, yet old-fashioned courtesy helps us maintain the same neighborhood feel we have always had. We look forward in the years ahead to continue our commitment to excellence in insurance products and advice and our service to the business community of the Southeast.
