History of Murray

Providing Risk Management and Insurance Solutions Since 1930.

Murray was founded in 1930 by Paul G. Murray, a leading Lancaster County entrepreneur. “Pop,” or “Mr. Duke Street,” as Mr. Murray was known by most of his friends and business associates, set up his business during the depths of the Great Depression. One of the first major projects undertaken by the fledging company was writing the bond for the 1930 construction of the Veterans’ Memorial Bridge over the Susquehanna River, the longest concrete arch bridge in the world, and the largest public works project of its time.

Mr. Murray served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for 16 years, from 1945 to 1961. During this time, the business, now Paul G. Murray and Son, grew under the leadership of his son, P. Walter Murray, who joined the agency in 1946. In 1970, the agency’s name was changed to Paul G. Murray Insurance Associates. Through various acquisitions, the agency acquired the former Widmyer-Prangley Agency, which was founded in 1861, the first year of the Civil War. In 1980, a branch office was added in Quarryville, Pennsylvania.

In January 1983, control of the agency was passed to Joseph P. Nolt, who served as the Chairman, and Dennis Dvorchak, CPCU, President. Founder Paul G. Murray became a consultant to the current organization which still includes his name. In 1986, the agency acquired the Robert M. Book, Inc., agency, which doubled the size of the Quarryville branch, making it the largest agency in southern Lancaster County. This office is now housed in the modernized former Quarryville Post Office at 6 South Church Street, Quarryville.

In 1987, Murray Insurance Associates merged with the prominent Lancaster firm, Gunning/Strickler & Associates, adding group health and life insurance expertise. The Employee Benefits Division now resides in the corporate headquarters on North Duke Street. In early 1989 a Personal Insurance Center was opened as a western Lancaster County branch near Centerville which has since been relocated to Abbeyville Road, Lancaster Township.

The Agency has historically served clients in and around Lancaster County until 1995 when Murray acquired CIB, Inc. (Construction Insurance and Bonding, Inc.), New Cumberland. The Magill Agency, located in Harrisburg, was purchased in 1999 and was consolidated into what is now Murray’s Capital Region Office located in the Rossmoyne Business Center, Mechanicsburg.

The business name, Murray Insurance Associates, Inc., was changed in 2005 to reflect Murray’s depth of risk management capabilities.

In 2010, Murray strengthened its focus in the construction and surety bonding industries by acquiring Construction Bonds, Inc., Herndon, Virginia. Construction Bonds specializes in surety bonding for small to mid-sized companies, and in 2010, they were recognized as the U.S. Small Business Administration's surety bond producer of the year.

In 2011, Joseph P. Nolt retired from Murray after 28 years and Richard M. Rankin, CIC, was elected Chairman by the Murray Board of Directors. Today, the organization is led by an executive management team consisting of: Richard M. Rankin, CIC, Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer; David E. Hosler, CPCU, Chief Operating Officer; Holly M. Kutz, AAM, Chief Financial Officer; Stephen Riley, Sr. Vice President, Program Services Division; David R. Bradbury, Sr. Vice President, Construction Services Division; and Peter Wengrenovich, Sr. Vice President, Commercial Sales and Service Division.

Today, Murray Risk Management and Insurance Services is employee-owned with a staff of 130 insurance specialists, represents more than 30 property, casualty, life and health companies and serves nearly 13,000 commercial, personal and employee benefits clients.