Insurance Agent, Industry Leader Bolton Remembered as Friend and Mentor

William Bolton, head of a large national brokerage, leader of a regional brokers group and chairman of Assurex Global, died on Oct. 5 at age 77 following a long battle with squamous cell carcinoma and a bilateral lung transplant more than five years ago.

Bolton, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, helped build Bolton & Co. into the ranks of top privately held brokers nationwide and also sat on numerous boards of directors for various insurance carriers.

Steve Brockmeyer, president and CEO of Pasadena, Calif.-based Bolton & Co., said Bolton made an impact locally, nationally and personally.

“Beyond his contributions to our industry, Bill was an incredible mentor,” Brockmeyer said. “He taught me the importance of strong industry relationships built on solid ethics and values, and that’s something I live by today.”

Mike Morey, chief operating officer of Bolton & Co., remembers his charitable nature.

“He recognized how fortunate we were, and he really encouraged us to help support others, whether it was the insurance industry, the communities we called home or local organizations that made a positive impact,” Morey said. “This sentiment of giving is one that has since defined our organization’s culture, and it’s a guiding principal for how our firm does business today. He was an incredible leader and wonderful person, and he will be missed.”

Bolton was born in Huntington Park, Calif. He was raised in San Marino, Calif., and graduated from San Marino High School and the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, with an emphasis in risk management.

He and his first wife, the late Mary Susan Powell, raised their two children in San Marino, where he was active in youth and CIF sports, and civic groups.

He married Linda Britton in 1991 and moved to Pasadena. The couple had a second home in Hayden Lake, Idaho, where they enjoyed boating, playing golf, entertaining and hosting their eight grandchildren, who adoringly called him “Bumpie.”

Bolton began his insurance career in 1961 at Industrial Indemnity Co. By 1970, he and his brother, Jim, took over Bolton & Company Insurance Brokers from their father, growing it into one of the top 100 largest insurance brokerages in the U.S.

Bolton was president of the Western Association of Insurance Brokers (now IBA West), and served on the California Insurance Commissioner’s Fair Practices Commission, board of directors of the Western Compensation Insurance Co. and board of the Professional Agents Reinsurance.

In 1986, he was elected chairman of Assurex International. He also served on the advisory committees of The Travelers Insurance Co., Atlantic Mutual Insurance Co., St. Paul Fire & Marine Co. and Industrial Indemnity Co. He authored numerous articles on insurance and risk management, and sat on the board of directors of Wells Media Group, publisher of Insurance Journal.

In 1999, he received the Ramsden/Sullivan Memorial Award, the highest individual honor given by IBA West.

He is survived by his wife, Linda; mother, Helen; brother, James; and children Lisa Singelyn and Patrick; stepson Michael Britton; and grandchildren Michael, Matthew and Ashlyn Singelyn, Lauren and Luke Bolton, and Miranda, Steven and Nicholas Britton.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center Transplantation Institute, 500 West Thomas Road, Suite 300, Phoenix, AZ 85013.

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