For other people named Leo Goodwin, see Leo Goodwin ( disambiguation ) Leo Goodwin Sr. ( 1886–1971 ) was a businessman and philanthropist best known for founding GEICO in 1936, with his wife Lillian Goodwin .

backdrop [edit ]

Goodwin was born in 1886 in Lowndes, Missouri, the son of a country doctor who traveled by sawhorse and buggy to treat his patients. Educated as an accountant, Goodwin entered the policy business in San Antonio, Texas. As he became more feel in the discipline, Goodwin came to the remarkable insight that the industry could better serve its customers and reduce costs by eliminating sales commissions to producers of premiums and dealing directly with policyholders. With this precedent-setting vision in mind, he founded the Government Employees Insurance Company ( GEICO ) in 1936. With his wife, Lillian, Mr. Goodwin worked 12 hours a day for small or no wage for several years to implement his occupation dream. In 1940, after operate on in the crimson for respective years, the caller realized its beginning profit. In 1948, GEICO became publicly owned and as of 2018 has assets of more than $ 32 billion. [ 1 ]

Professional career and GEICO [edit ]

He hammered out the basic business plan during his early career days in Texas. In 1936, Goodwin established GEICO operations in Washington, D.C. By the end of 1936, there were 3,700 GEICO policies in force and a total staff of 12 people. He believed that “ if he lowered costs in the caller by marketing directly to carefully targeted customer groups, he ‘d be able to pass along lower premiums and even earn a profit ”. With his wife, Lillian, Mr. Goodwin worked 12 hours a day for fiddling or no wage for several years to implement his business pipe dream. In 1940, after operational in the crimson for respective years, the company realized its first profit. In 1948, GEICO became publicly owned and nowadays has assets of about $ 7.3 billion. Leo Goodwin chose to retire in 1958. In 2001, Leo Goodwin was posthumously named to the Insurance Hall of Fame. [ 2 ] [ 3 ]

philanthropy [edit ]

Exterior of Leo Goodwin Sr. Hall – home of Shepard Broad Law Center

Leo Goodwin was a large donor to Nova Southeastern University and is considered one of the basal founders. The build that contains the university ‘s jurisprudence school, Shepard Broad Law Center, is housed in Leo Goodwin Sr. Hall. In addition, one of the dorms is named the Leo Goodwin Sr. Residence Hall. The Law Center is housed in the Leo Goodwin Sr. Hall, which is named for a generous entrepreneur and visionary who was committed to the promotion of education and inquiry. The Goodwin Foundation carried on the community-minded attitude of Leo Goodwin Sr. after his death. It sponsors a scholarship at Broward Community College. The Leo Goodwin Sr. Chair in Law was established at Shepard Broad Law Center with an initial giving from the former Leo Goodwin Sr. The Goodwin Chair allows the Law Center to invite signalize legal scholars to spend fourth dimension in mansion, to team-teach a seminar with a member of the Law Center staff, and to interact with the Law Center faculty, students, and alumni .

References [edit ]

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