Texas MGA Myron Steves Receives National Honor from CPCUs
In 1948, only 211 people in the entire United States held the CPCU designation. A young insurance professional from Mobile, AL, Steves decided to take all of the CPCU exams at once (five exams were required at that time to earn CPCU). He passed four, but considered it a stroke of good fortune, to "flunk" one because it enabled him to receive the designation at what he describes as the "fantastically memorable 1949 Annual Meeting and Seminars in Dallas." At that meeting, Steves became CPCU #298, and he credits much of his success to the fact that he met many wonderful people there who impacted his career.
Steves graduated from Emory University in Atlanta in 1934, and began his insurance career there with American Mutual in 1937. He moved to Houston in 1951, and in 1955, he founded Myron F. Steves & Co., a managing general agency. Although he is retired and his sons and daughter now own the company, he still maintains an office at the agency.
In nominating Steves for the Standard Setter Award, the CPCU Society Houston Chapter writes that "he exemplifies expertise and professionalism in the industry." An active force in the CPCU movement, Steves helped form the Houston Chapter in 1951, previously a subchapter of the "Southwest" Chapter based in Dallas. In fact, he is the only living member of the chapter's original six founders.
Steves served as chapter president in 1955 and continues to be actively involved in the chapter. His commitment to the CPCU Society and the emphasis he places on education have been handed down to his children. Both of his sons have earned the CPCU designation, and his daughter is actively pursuing the designation, with several parts completed.
Several other professional organizations besides the CPCU Society have benefited from his involvement, including the Independent Insurance Agents of America, the Professional Insurance Agents of America, and the American Association of Managing General Agents. Steves is a past president of the Texas Surplus Lines Association (1971-72), and was awarded the presidential citation by the Independent Insurance Agents of Houston in 1989.
This Standard Setter actively supports several community-based organizations as well, including the Houston Rotary Club and the University of St. Thomas. Steves and his wife of 59 years, Maria Luisa, are fans of and participants in ballroom dancing, and stake a claim to fame by winning the first place trophy in the 1984 whistling contest at the Houston Rodeo & Livestock Show.
The Houston Chapter's letter of nomination says it best when commenting on his life and career, "The recognition in attaining the CPCU designation has provided a wealth of opportunities—personal and professional—to this amazing octogenarian who is dearly loved by many, especially those in the Houston Chapter."