General Info

The Forest M. Edwards Insurance Agency was founded on September 24th, 1929 under the original name Industrial Loan and Insurance of Rutherfordton, Inc by 7 men who owned varying amounts of the 250 shares issued. It was located in the First Industrial Bank in Rutherfordton, NC and had no Employees. The first Board of Directors meeting was held on August 26th, 1930 and by that time the share holders had reduced to only 5 members and by 1944 the share holders were down to 3. The bank that the agency was located in had changed its name to Security Bank & Trust Company. In 1967 the first full time employee, Frances Wilkie, was hired to run the day to day activities under the supervision of W.W. Hoy, who was the President of Security Bank & Trust Company. On September 25th, 1972, Forest Edwards, Jr. was hired and acquired 48% of the stock in insurance agency. On May 19th, 1977 Forest Edwards, Jr. acquired the remaining stock and became 100% owner of Industrial Loan and Insurance of Rutherfordton, Inc In January 1978 Industrial Loan and Insurance Agency of Rutherfordton, Inc. moved its office to 205 N. Main St, Rutherfordton, NC. On October 7th, 1985 our business name was changed to Forest M. Edwards Insurance Agency, Inc, the name you know us by today. In the 13 years from 1985 to 1998 our agency acquired three insurance agencies in our area. Those business transactions helped us to provide even more risk and insurance services, and established many new, long term customer relationships. In December 2001 we moved our office to its current location at 406 Daniel Rd, Forest City, NC. In September 2005 we took a significant leap forward by joining the Keystone Insurance Group. Our association with Keystone allows us to offer the range of service and depth of expertise of a large, national insurance broker while maintaining the local relationships that have been so important to our success through the years. Forest M. Edwards Agency, Inc Powered by: Confluency Solutions, Inc Photo courtesy of Garrett Byers ; Daily Courier