From introducing the firm\u2019s groundbreaking single-source service model, enabling clients to access a full spectrum of insurance and financial services in one place, to building a culture of generosity, where employees combine philanthropic efforts, to establishing Higginbotham\u2019s employee ownership structure, Reid has demonstrated leadership at both the firm and in the industry, the award judges said. Texas Wesleyan has honored a top business executive every year since 1970.<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s recipients were\u00a0Billy Rosenthal, chairman of the Penrose Group LLC, and Rozanne Rosenthal, founder of the Greater Fort Worth affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe honor sort of helped us re-engage with the community,\u201d said Billy Rosenthal, \u201cwhich has been great for us.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Reid came to Higginbotham and the insurance business via a circuitous route that began with plans to be a pediatrician. After a class in organic chemistry caused him to reconsider his career path, he ended up in business school, eventually interning at an insurance agency.\u00a0<\/p>\n
By 1986, Reid had joined Higginbotham as the company\u2019s 12th employee to help run the business insurance practice. A few years later, CEO Reid began to plant the seeds of an idea that came to him when he worked at another insurance company: employee ownership.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Higginbotham eventually set up a stock ownership plan that gave each employee a stake in the company. It remains a business cornerstone that continues to attract and retain talent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Reid has earned widespread recognition for his leadership both from his peers and the broader industry. He was named a Most Admired CEO by the Dallas Business Journal and the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation\u2019s 2024 Philanthropic Leader. He received the Susan Halsey Executive Leadership Award from the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and was named a Top Private Executive by Fort Worth Business Press. Plus, Reid was honored as CEO of the Year at the Business Insurance America Awards, named Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW Inc., and recognized as one of the 25 Most Innovative Agents in America by The National Alliance & The Rough Notes Company Inc.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If you go<\/p>\n
What:<\/strong> Texas Wesleyan University, Fort Worth Report and Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce will honor Rusty Reid at the 55th Fort Worth Business Hall of Fame event<\/strong>. Dress is business attire, and attendance is open to the general public.<\/p>\n When:<\/strong> 6 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Omni Fort Worth. The reception begins at 6 p.m., and the dinner begins at 7 p.m.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tickets:<\/strong> $400 per person.<\/p>\n Sponsorship opportunities are also available:<\/strong> To make reservations and purchase tickets<\/strong>: Contact Amy Tate-Almy, development officer, at 817-531-5806.<\/p>\n Reid graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor\u2019s in business administration\/insurance. Reid and his wife, Molly, have three children and six grandchildren.<\/p>\n The 55th Business Hall of Fame is made possible by the joint efforts of Texas Wesleyan University, the Fort Worth Report, and the Fort Worth Chamber to present the Business Executive of the Year. <\/p>\n The event supports the Thomas H. Law Scholarship endowment, which benefits business students at Texas Wesleyan.<\/p>\n Fort Worth Business Hall of Fame<\/strong><\/p>\n Past Recipients (1970 \u2013 2024)<\/p>\n 1970 \u2013 J.M. Leonard and O.P. Leonard<\/p>\n Leonard Department Stores<\/p>\n 1971 \u2013 James L. West<\/p>\n Tandy Corporation<\/p>\n 1972 \u2013 John Justin Jr.<\/p>\n Justin Industries<\/p>\n 1973 \u2013 M.J. Neeley<\/p>\n M.J. Neeley Company<\/p>\n 1974 \u2013 J.C. Pace Jr.<\/p>\n J.C. Pace & Company<\/p>\n 1975 \u2013 R.E. Cox Jr.<\/p>\n R.E. Cox & Company<\/p>\n 1976 \u2013 Charles D. Tandy<\/p>\n Tandy Corporation<\/p>\n 1977 \u2013 H.E. Chiles<\/p>\n Western Company of North America<\/p>\n 1978 \u2013 Richard L. Lowe<\/p>\n American Quasar Petroleum Company<\/p>\n 1978 \u2013 Charles G. Bluhdorn (honorary)<\/p>\n Gulf + Western<\/p>\n 1979 \u2013 A.M. Pate Jr.<\/p>\n Texas Refinery Corporation<\/p>\n 1980 \u2013 Arthur J. Dickerson<\/p>\n Southwest Petroleum Corporation<\/p>\n 1981 \u2013 William Conner<\/p>\n Alcon Laboratories Inc.<\/p>\n 1982 \u2013 Marvin Gearhart<\/p>\n Gearhart Industries Inc.<\/p>\n 1982 \u2013 Amon G. Carter Jr. (honorary)<\/p>\n Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n 1983 \u2013 Judson Cramer<\/p>\n J&J Supply Inc.<\/p>\n 1984 \u2013 William T. Smith<\/p>\n Champlin Petroleum Company<\/p>\n 1985 \u2013 James R. Nichols<\/p>\n Freese and Nichols Inc.<\/p>\n 1986 \u2013 Bob Bolen<\/p>\n Former Mayor of Fort Worth<\/p>\n 1987 \u2013 Thomas H. Law<\/p>\n Law Snakard & Gambill<\/p>\n 1988 \u2013 John V. Roach<\/p>\n Tandy Corporation<\/p>\n 1989 \u2013 Robert L. Crandall<\/p>\n American Airlines<\/p>\n 1990 \u2013 William L. Adams<\/p>\n Union Pacific Resources Company<\/p>\n 1991 \u2013 Gerald Grinstein<\/p>\n Burlington Northern Inc.<\/p>\n 1992 \u2013 Charlie L. Hillard<\/p>\n Hillard Auto Park<\/p>\n 1993 \u2013 Dee J. Kelly<\/p>\n Kelly Hart & Hallman<\/p>\n 1994 \u2013 Clark A. Johnson<\/p>\n Pier 1 Imports<\/p>\n 1995 \u2013 Edgar H. Schollmaier<\/p>\n Alcon Laboratories Inc.<\/p>\n 1996 \u2013 Bayard H. Friedman<\/p>\n Friedman Young and Suder<\/p>\n 1997 \u2013 Webb F. Joiner<\/p>\n Bell Helicopter Textron<\/p>\n 1998 \u2013 James S. DuBose<\/p>\n Colonial Savings, Fort Worth Mortgage<\/p>\n 1999 \u2013 The Honorable Kay Granger<\/p>\n U.S. House of Representatives<\/p>\n 2000 \u2013 Holt Hickman<\/p>\n Fort Worth Battery and Automotive<\/p>\n 2001 \u2013 Clifton H. Morris Jr.<\/p>\n AmeriCredit Corporation<\/p>\n 2002 \u2013 Marvin J. Girouard<\/p>\n Pier 1 Imports<\/p>\n 2003 \u2013 Dain M. Hancock<\/p>\n Lockheed Martin Aeronautics<\/p>\n 2004 \u2013 Robert L. Herchert<\/p>\n Freese and Nichols Inc.<\/p>\n 2005 \u2013 Leonard Roberts<\/p>\n RadioShack<\/p>\n 2006 \u2013 W.R. \u201cBob\u201d Watt Jr.<\/p>\n Southwestern Exposition & Livestock Show<\/p>\n 2007 \u2013 Bob R. Simpson<\/p>\n XTO Energy<\/p>\n 2008 \u2013 Matt Rose<\/p>\n BNSF Corporation<\/p>\n 2009 \u2013 Vernon Bryant Jr.<\/p>\n Southwest Bank<\/p>\n 2010 \u2013 J. Luther King Jr.<\/p>\n Luther King Capital Management<\/p>\n 2011 \u2013 Paul Andrews Jr.<\/p>\n TTI Inc.<\/p>\n 2012 \u2013 Nolan Ryan<\/p>\n Texas Rangers Baseball Club<\/p>\n 2013 \u2013 Mike Berry<\/p>\n Hillwood Properties<\/p>\n 2014 \u2013 Jon Brumley<\/p>\n Bounty Investments<\/p>\n 2015 \u2013 Hunter Enis<\/p>\n Four Sevens Oil Co.<\/p>\n 2016 \u2013 Martha Williams<\/p>\n Williams Trew Real Estate Services<\/p>\n 2016 \u2013 Joan Trew<\/p>\n Williams Trew Real Estate Services<\/p>\n 2017 \u2013 H. Paul Dorman<\/p>\n DFB Pharmaceuticals LLC<\/p>\n 2018 \u2013 John C. Goff<\/p>\n Goff Capital Inc.<\/p>\n Crescent Real Estate Holdings<\/p>\n 2019 \u2013 Edward P. Bass<\/p>\n Fine Line Group<\/p>\n 2021 \u2013 Elaine Agather<\/p>\n J.P. Morgan Private Bank<\/p>\n 2022 \u2013 Arnold \u201cArnie\u201d G. Gachman<\/p>\n Gamtex Industries<\/p>\n 2023 \u2013 David Bonderman<\/p>\n TPG<\/p>\n 2024 \u2013 Billy and Rozanne Rosenthal\u00a0<\/p>\n Standard Meat Co., Greater Fort Worth affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation\u00a0<\/p>\n Bob Francis is business editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org.<\/p>\n The Fort Worth Report is a sponsor of the Business Hall of Fame event.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n
\u2022 Executive Sponsor \u2013 $25,000
\u2022 Leadership Sponsor \u2013 $10,000
\u2022 Blue & Gold Sponsor \u2013 $5,000
\u2022 Table Sponsor \u2013 $3,500<\/p>\n
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