November 2007
James E. "Jimmy" Brock
FHM Insurance and the Florida lodging industry lost a long-time friend and leader on September 11, 2007, with the passing of FHM Board Chairman and retired St. Augustine hotelier James E. "Jimmy" Brock. "No one in this industry was more respected and loved than Jimmy Brock" said Jack Healan, FHM Board Vice Chairman and President and General Manager of the Amelia Island Plantation Company.
In 1954, Brock organized a group of hoteliers to form one of the first self insured workers’ compensation funds in Florida – the Florida Hotel & Motel Self Insurers Workers’ Compensation Fund. "This was so typical of Jimmy, here were a bunch of hoteliers sitting around trying to figure out how to get affordable workers’ compensation coverage. Jimmy cut to the heart of the matter and suggested the obvious – form their own insurance company," observed Bill Bond, President of FHM Insurance Company. After 40 years, the Fund was converted to a mutual insurance company, FHM Insurance Company.
"My companies have done business with FHM and its predecessor, for over 40 years" states Walter Banks, Owner/Operator of Lago Mar and FHM Board member, "Jimmy was always involved in the relationship, always there to remind us why we should do business with FHM and always ready to help resolve problems or help us with complicated situations."
Saying Jimmy Brock served as Chairman of the Board of FHM for 50 years – from 1957 until his death – doesn’t begin to describe the impact he had on FHM. An active and involved Chairman, Jimmy didn’t miss a meeting of the FHM Board for 50 years; he missed his first meeting in June 2007 when his illness finally got the better of him. Bill Bond summed up Mr. Brock’s importance to the company succinctly “Jimmy hand built FHM. He selected all of the Board Members. He expected them to use their expertise and exercise all their skills, but most importantly, he expected them to work together and form a strong bond that would withstand the test of time, the strain of philosophical differences and the stress of financial difficulties.”
William W. "Bill" Faw taught Brock the lodging business. Brock learned his trade while assisting with management of Faw’s chain of hotels in the Southeast and eventually becoming General Manager of the Bennett Hotel in St. Augustine. Brock later shifted his focus to the Monson Motor Lodge in St. Augustine’s historic district, serving first as a partner and then as owner for 40 years. Walter Banks remembers Brock this way "He was a small man with a big, positive personality. He wanted to win, he wanted to get things done, and he was willing to do whatever it took to accomplish his objectives. He was an industry leader for his entire career – respected and honored by all." Tom Waits, former CEO of the Florida Hotel & Motel Association (FH&MA) said, "Jimmy always had a habit of falling in love with what he was doing. His love for FHM and Florida’s hotel and motel industry helped fuel their success. Everyone who worked with Jimmy was challenged to live up to the high standard he set and find the same dedication and love for what they were doing."
In addition to serving as President and Chairman of the Board for the old Florida Hotel & Motel Association in 1964 and 1965, Brock was recognized by his colleagues as Florida’s Hotelier of the Year in 1987. Ruel Bradley, FHM Board member, former hotelier and long time friend of Brock, recalls that Jimmy was very influential in the Association. "Jimmy was very involved in the Association. His influence was enormous even though he only owned one small hotel. He was instrumental in saving the organization when it experienced financial difficulties and was the champion who convinced the Department of Insurance it would be a good idea for the organization to have it’s own building in Tallahassee" he says. "Of course, that is the building known as Hospitality Square to some but whose official name was the James E. Brock building!" Tom Waits also reflects on the fact that Jimmy was a strong voice for the small property owners. "Jimmy represented all the small hotel and motel owners in Florida and helped them be heard and helped them be successful. He gave them one loud voice."
Mr. Brock was around long enough to see the successors of two organizations of which he was an original member come together – FHM Insurance is now the endorsed worker’s compensation provider for the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association.
Born in Benton, Tennessee, Brock had a "country wisdom" saying for every situation. This talent served him well as he became famous for using the perfect "Jimmyism," as those who knew him refer to them, to sum up even the most complex business situations in a few simple but telling words. "Jimmy was a master at narrowing the focus to the central issue in any situation" commented Jack Healan. "He had a saying for every situation – and even though they were often humorous, they were always right on the mark."
During his 10 year service in the U.S. Navy, Brock spent just enough time in Jacksonville to meet the one person dearest to him – his wife Peggy. The newlyweds moved to St. Augustine in 1945, where they spent the rest of their lives operating hotels, sharing their love and compassion with the St. Augustine community and hotel industry, raising two daughters and enjoying the wonder of four grandchildren.
Mr. Brock’s community contributions are numerous. His accomplishments include helping to organize the Community Chest/United Fund in St. Augustine, serving as a lifelong member and two-time Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, serving as president of the local Exchange Club and enjoying a long-time membership in Toastmasters International. He also served on the Board of Directors of both the St. Augustine Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Chamber of Commerce for many years. In addition, he was a Knight Templar, a Shriner and a Life Member of the Masonic Lodge.
Perhaps it was not so publicly known that in addition to his tireless efforts on behalf of FHM, his participation in the Florida Hotel & Motel Association, and his countless community activities, Jimmy Brock also found the time to be a caring and influential mentor and friend. As the Reverend David Rice commented in his eulogy, "Jimmy Brock didn’t believe in the concept of the ‘self made man.’ He said for every ‘self made man’ there had been someone along the way to provide an extra push, whisper a special word of inspiration, or open a crucial door. Although he was a humble man who would probably feel uncomfortable hearing this said, Jimmy Brock was that ‘someone’ in the lives of countless people during his lifetime."
James E. "Jimmy" Brock – hotelier, insurance man, community activist, devoted husband, father and grandfather, mentor to many, friend to all – has passed from our presence but will never leave our hearts and minds. Losing someone like Jimmy is never easy. He will be greatly and sorely missed.
While those of us who knew and loved him cannot forget the pain of losing him, the memories of him and the experiences we shared with him will always be with us as a constant reminder of how he cared for us and touched our lives.
If you would like to remember Mr. Brock with a gift, you can make a donation to the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation, James E. Brock Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 1779, Tallahassee, FL 32302-1779. Please make your check payable to FRLAEF and be sure to note that it is for the James E. Brock Scholarship Fund. FRLAEF is an IRS qualified charitable organization, and donations are subject to the applicable IRS Charitable Contribution rules.
TOP OF PAGE
|
