50 YEARS UNDER WESTERN RIVERS NAME
89 YEARS IN BUSINESS IN PADUCAH
100 YEAR ROOTS IN THE INSURANCE BUSINESS

Western Rivers Corporation doing business as Western Rivers Insurance evolved from the merger of insurance agencies Woodall & Melton, Inc. and Western Rivers Agency, Inc.

Woodall & Melton was established in 1928 by S. Roy Woodall and Strother Melton with an office at 913 City National Bank Building, Paducah. The agency was purchased from Mr. Woodall’s father C. A. Woodall. C. A. Woodall started in the insurance business in 1907 and opened the Paducah office in 1918. Woodall & Melton later moved to 114 N. 4th Street. In 1970, the office moved to its current location at 703 Jefferson Street in Paducah. Ray Dew started with the agency in 1966. Homer Austin started in 1968. Ray and Homer became owners of the agency in 1976.

The Western Rivers Agency, Inc. was started by Don Hartline in 1957 with a primary focus on river marine insurance. The original office was located at the Hougland Barge Line office at 1231 S 3rd Street in Paducah which is now occupied by Precision Machine. The office was later moved to 1574 Jefferson Street, Paducah. Ronald L. Stonecipher started with the agency in 1968 and Thomas W. Jones started in 1969. Ron and Tom purchased the agency from Mr. Hartline in 1981

In 1982, the insurance agencies of Woodall & Melton, Inc. and The Western Rivers Agency, Inc. merged, adopted the name of Western Rivers Corporation and retained the office at 703 Jefferson Street, Paducah.

In 1988 Western Rivers acquired the John R. Anderson Insurance Agency which had been started in 1958 by John R. Anderson, Sr. For many years this office was located at Brown and Beltline in Paducah. John R. Anderson. Jr. joined the agency in 1982. With the retirement of John R. Anderson, Sr. and the sale to Western Rivers, John R. Anderson, Jr. became a co-owner of Western Rivers with Austin, Dew, Stonecipher and Jones.

In 1989, Western Rivers adopted an Employee Stock Ownership Plan to perpetuate the agency and to encourage a proprietary interest among its employees. All employees now have ownership and a vested interest in the agency.

2000, Allen Dossey and Patty Freeman became owners along with Stonecipher and Anderson.
2000, Shirley Russell, Office Manager, retired from Western Rivers after 47 year with the firm.
2003, David King and in 2006 Suzanne McClure were added as co-owners.

Over the years Western Rivers acquired other agencies adding to the growth of our firm.
1991 Calvert City Insurance which was later sold to Gayle Hall.
1996 A book of business written by Western Kentucky Insurance Agency.
1999 Ron Pitchford Insurance Agency.
2003 Insurance Center of Murray and Insurance Center of Mayfield,

2005 John Anderson, Jr. retired
2006 Ron Stonecipher retired.
After Ron’s retirement in 2006, Allen Dossey was elected President , Patty Freeman and, David King, Vice-Presidents and Suzanne McClure, Secretary-Treasurer.

Western Rivers currently has 25 employees, with combined years of service and experience of over 200 years.

Everyone at Western Rivers Insurance looks forward to another 50+ years for our agency in the city of Paducah.