Ask just about anyone who has lived in the Corning New York area for several decades about Lloyd Sprague, and you'll hear the same words: "fine man," "honorable," "good citizen," "community minded," and of course, "insurance." It was this man, Lloyd D. Sprague, who founded Sprague Insurance in 1921, and who imbued it with the values and approach to doing business that have characterized the firm ever since. A decade after founding the company, he purchased F.D. Kingsbury and Son, an insurance company that had traced its origins to 1848.

Lloyd was vitally involved in the business from the day he opened the doors until his death in 1992, at age 98. But he was never too busy to contribute to the community. He was a charter member of the Corning Lions Club in 1927, and was active in the Chamber of Commerce and Corning Country Club. He and his wife Iva were active in their church and charitable organizations.

Lloyd and Iva's son Theodore (Ted) joined the company in 1949. Like his father, Ted earned a reputation for honesty, integrity, industriousness and generosity. An active and visible rower and runner, Ted was equally on the move as a civic leader of many community-development and charitable efforts. He served on the Boards of Directors and took his turn as president of Three Rivers Development Corporation, the Greater Corning Area Chamber of Commerce, Market Street Restoration Agency, Corning Rotary Club and Corning Classic LPGA, and was a member of the Town of Corning Planning Board. The Chamber of Commerce honored Ted with its John G. Eberenz Award, and Rotary bestowed on him the Paul Harris Award. His wife Mary Ann was his partner in community service. Ted and Mary Ann were tireless champions for historic preservation as an economic development engine, and set an example through the business - Sprague Insurance was one of the first Corning businesses to restore its Market Street storefront façade and highly visible interior. Under Ted's tenure, Sprague Insurance underwent another significant expansion with the acquisition of McCarty Insurance Agency in 1982.

Ted and MaryAnn's son, Andy, an architect then living in Vermont, joined the firm in 2000. And so it was that the third generation of Spragues took the helm. His first mission was to learn the insurance business, drawing from his father's 51 years of experience and the expertise of the Sprague team while earning his Property and Casualty license. His architectural skills are an asset to the firm, providing in-depth knowledge of the building construction industry. His detailed analysis of properties for applications, quotes and renewals, and his expertise to assess structural damage in order to speed up the process of settling claims means that Sprague Insurance has additional in-house advantages for our customers.

Given the history of Sprague values and traditions, it is no surprise that Andy is deeply involved in the community, as well. He serves on the boards of Three Rivers Development, Corning's Gaffer District, The Market Street Restoration Agency, and the Rockwell Museum of Western Art.

The Sprague personal values and professional traditions remain powerful drivers of the business today. All three generations have looked forward, sought growth, served the community and - most of all - done right by their customers.