Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame Announces 2025 Inductees
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame (IIHOF) has announced its 2025 inductees, recognizing four outstanding individuals whose careers have significantly shaped the insurance industry in Iowa and beyond. Inductees must have an Iowa connection, demonstrate high ethical standards, and serve as role models for others in the profession. This year’s honorees are John Butler, Bob Conroy, Ronald Rutledge, and Jim Willis.
John Butler joined Cottingham & Butler in 1957 as one of three employees and spent the next six decades transforming the family business into one of the largest privately held insurance brokerages in the country. Under Butler’s leadership, the firm grew to more than 1,300 employees nationwide and expanded into claims administration, managed care, health, and safety services. Butler served on the executive committees of Assurex Global and the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers and chaired the Iowa Association of Business and Industry. A lifelong advocate for education and community development, he and his wife, Alice, recently donated $60 million to establish the John and Alice Butler College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Dubuque, set to open in 2028.
Bob Conroy has spent more than four decades in the insurance industry, serving in leadership roles at Preferred Risk Mutual and GuideOne Insurance, and as Executive Director of the Iowa FAIR Plan Association. Under his guidance, the FAIR Plan underwent a major transformation—modernizing operations, introducing online payments and portals, and expanding access to essential property insurance. Conroy is a past president of the Iowa CPCU Society Chapter and has been recognized with the CPCU Excellence Award, the Burkhalter Award, and the Iowa Governor’s Lifesaving Award.
Ronald Rutledge joined Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa (FMH) in 1981 and spent the next four decades shaping the future of crop insurance. He was appointed to the FMH Board of Directors in 1993, named Chief Information Officer in 2006, and became President and CEO in 2010. Under his leadership, FMH doubled its premium volume and expanded nationally through the acquisition of John Deere Insurance Company. Rutledge continues to serve as Chairman of the Board and has held leadership roles on the boards of the National Crop Insurance Services (NCIS), the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB), the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, and the Iowa Insurance Institute. He was honored with the CIRB Chairman’s Award and the NCIS Crop Insurance Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024.
Jim Willis (posthumous)
Jim Willis began his career in the insurance industry in 2001 and quickly became a respected leader in employee benefits. He founded Community Insurance Partners/Willis Benefits and later co-founded Group Benefit Partners, expanding services across eastern Iowa. Known for his innovation and client-first approach, Willis continued working even after being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2019. He was a two-time recipient of the Wellmark Promise Award and named the 2014 top small-group agent for CoOpportunity Health. Willis also mentored many professionals and was deeply involved in his community, coaching youth sports and serving on local development boards. He died in 2021.
The 2025 induction ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at The Meadows Event Center in Altoona, Iowa. In addition to recognizing the inductees, the IIHOF will also award a total of $25,000 at the event to 11 students expecting to pursue insurance-related careers. For more information or to register, visit www.iihof.org.
For more information:
Jeff Jeffus
IIHOF Chair
Jlbkwdm@yahoo.com
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About the IIHOF
The Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame was founded in 1997 to recognize outstanding contributions to the Iowa insurance industry. A selection committee evaluates nominations on standards including ethics and impact on the industry. The Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation and donations can be tax deductible. Learn more at www.iihof.org.
