About Murray

Our History

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 serves as the Chairman and Treasurer, 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. Today, Murray Risk Management and Insurance Services employs more than 135 insurance specialists, represents more than 30 property, casualty, life and health companies and serves nearly 13,000 commercial, personal and employee benefits clients.

Related Information:

• About Murray
• Events
• Executive Management
• Contact
• Employment
• Home

Downloads:

• History of Murray