CHARLESTON — Robert G. “Bob” Ashley of Ashley Insurance Agency in Spencer was presented the Independent Insurance Agents of West Virginia’s Earle S. Dillard Agent of the Year Award at the association’s annual convention in October at The Greenbrier.
“The Earle S. Dillard award is presented annually to those association member agents who, throughout their career, have personified the qualities most admired by the profession,” said Traci Nelson, chief executive officer of the IIAWV. “Bob not only is an agent held in high regard by his peers in West Virginia, but also by the many clients he serves in his community.
“Bob has a long career as a public servant to the people of West Virginia, first serving in the West Virginia House of Delegates, then the West Virginia Senate and now as Gov. Jim Justice’s legislative director,” she said.
“Because of his service, not only to his clients, but to the citizens of the Mountain State, we feel there is no one more deserving of this award.”
Ashley opened the agency that bears his name in 1983. Started from scratch, it has now grown to serve thousands of people across the state.
While serving as an agent, Ashley was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates for 15 terms beginning in 1984. He served in numerous leadership capacities including House minority leader, minority whip, vice chairman of the House Finance Committee and chairman of the House Banking and Insurance Committee.
In 2015, then-Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin appointed Ashley to fill an unexpired term in the state Senate by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin where he served on the Judiciary, Health and Human Resources and Banking and Insurance committees, among others. After being defeated in the Republican primary to complete the unexpired Senate term, he was appointed in January to serve as Justice’s legislative director.
Ashley has been an active scouting volunteer and is a former president of the Allohak Council and Central Region, Area 4 President for the Boy Scouts of America. He is also a member of Spencer Rotary, Roane County Chamber of Commerce, as well as the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the West Virginia Independent Insurance Agents. He is a member of St. Johns United Methodist Church in Spencer.
Ashley is married to Anita Harold Ashley, who serves as a judge in West Virginia’s 5th Judicial Circuit. They have two sons, Ben, an architect, and Sam, a petroleum engineer.
The Independent Insurance Agents of West Virginia Inc. is the Mountain State’s oldest and largest insurance trade association, representing more than 2,000 licensed independent insurance agents whose primary emphasis is on property and casualty insurance. To learn more, visit www.piiawv.org.
Contact:
Ashley Insurance Agency
Bob Ashley, Owner
Phone: (304) 927-2175
Email: quote@bobashleyinsurance.com