Alumni Awards
2011 UGA RMI Alumnus of the Year
J. Cliff McCurry, CPCU
Vice Chairman
Seacrest Partners, Inc.
J. Cliff McCurry, CPCU serves as Vice-Chairman of Seacrest Partners, Inc., a privately-held insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm based in Savannah, Georgia.
McCurry has been a vibrant force in the Savannah insurance and business community for more than 40 years. In 2009, McCurry resigned his position as Chairman of Willis HRH’s Savannah operation to join Seacrest Partners, a new and growing independent agency. Until that point in his career, McCurry had worked continuously for the same firm and its successors throughout multiple mergers since 1970.
In his role as Vice-Chairman of Seacrest Partners, McCurry oversees the firm’s business development activities.
Professional Experience
McCurry began his career in the insurance industry in 1970 when he joined Mercer Insurance Agency in Savannah, Georgia.
In 1981, the Mercer Insurance Agency merged with another Savannah-based agency, Jones & Hill Insurance. Jones Hill & Mercer merged in 1988 with Richmond, Virginia-based Hilb, Rogal & Hamilton (HRH) Company. In 2008, HRH was acquired by Willis Group, the third largest insurance broker in the world.
During his 39 years with the Mercer Insurance Agency and its successor firms, McCurry provided risk management advice to clients in every industry, from Main Street retailers to Fortune 500 manufacturing firms. As a result of his insight and expertise, McCurry has attained positions of increasing responsibility, from his initial sales position to that of chairman of Willis-HRH’s Savannah office and now vice-chairman of one of Georgia’s leading insurance brokerage firms.
Community & Civic Support
McCurry’s community involvement spans decades and he is widely known for his willingness to put in long hours for worthy causes. His past and present community and civic activities include serving in leadership positions on numerous local and regional not-for-profit and community service boards.
In 2005 Armstrong Atlantic State University recognized McCurry for his on-going support of the school by presenting him with the Outstanding Alumnus Service Award. McCurry served as President of the AASU Foundation Board of Trustees from 1995 to 1998 and returned to serve on the AASU Educational Properties Foundation Board in 2004. In 2003, McCurry and his wife, Kathy, endowed the Nick Mamalakis Emerging Leader Program at AASU.
In 2008, the national Leukemia Society recognized the St. Joseph’s/Candler Leukemia Cup Regatta and its Chairman, McCurry, for raising the second highest amount of donations in the United States.
Education
McCurry attended Armstrong State College from 1966-1968 where he was a member of the basketball team and sophomore class vice-president. He transferred to the University of Georgia and graduated in 1971 with a BBA in Risk Management and Insurance.
A dedicated student of his profession, McCurry earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) professional designation from the American Institute for Property and Liability Underwriters.
Vote for the next Alumnus of the Year
Is there someone you would like to nominate for the UGA RMI Alumnus of the Year? Nominees should have graduated at least 10 years ago. The nomination letter should include information supporting the nomination, such as a summary of career accomplishments and other reasons for the nomination. Please send letters to:
Robert E. Hoyt
206 Brooks Hall
Athens, GA 30602-6255
Please note that the deadline for nominations is October 31 of each year.
Past UGA RMI Alumni of the Year
| Year | Name | Company |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Shad Steadman | Rutherfoord |
| 2009 | Holly Meidl | Marsh USA |
| 2008 | Cecil R. Cooke | Aon Risk Services |
| 2007 | W. Pat Hopkins, Jr. | McGriff, Seibels & Williams of Georgia |
| 2006 | Bob Mathis | Peachtree Planning Corporation |
| 2005 | Elisha W. Finney | Varian Medical Systems |
| 2004 | Thomas C. Sewell | Palmer & Cay |
| 2003 | Chris Duncan | Delta Air Lines |
| 2002 | David L. Burch | Lincoln Financial Advisors |
| 2001 | C. Timothy Morris | Citigroup |
| 2000 | Larry A. Warner | Mars, Incorporated |
| 1999 | Pamela Rogers | Sears, Roebuck and Co. |
| 1998 | David G. Oliver | Willis Corroon |
| 1997 | Tom Golub | Hobbs Group, Inc. |
| 1996 | Jack P. Gibson | International Risk Management Institute, Inc. |
| 1995 | James R. Gabrielsen | Sedgwick of Georgia |
| 1994 | Daniel J. Dean | Gow & Hanna Group, Inc. |
| 1993 | Daniel P. Amos | Aflac |
| 1992 | Ted L. Young | Sedgwick James of Georgia, Inc. |
Contact Information
University of Georgia
206 Brooks Hall
