Our Story
In 1953, George E. Booth - an employee at the Vinton County National Bank - began searching for a method to supplement his salary and to provide more for his wife, Dorothy, and their four children. Noting that no one in the county was selling Real Estate at that time, he approached the Central Realty Company of Columbus to propose an alliance. However, Charlie Leonard of Central Realty recognized that George would only be available to show properties during the evening after his shift at the bank had ended. Knowing that prospective buyers would be reluctant to travel from Columbus to Vinton County at those hours, Central Realty declined the offer. Earlier that year, David R. Booth, George's father, relocated to McArthur from Wilkesville after fire destroyed the family home. David was looking for light work to occupy his time, so George proposed the idea of the two of them becoming licensed associates with Central Realty. This time, Charlie Leonard approved of the idea. George and David passed the licensing examination on their first attempts, and they established a branch office of Central Realty in George's house. Within two years, Dorothy earned her license to sell Real Estate and joined her husband and father-in-law in the venture.
By 1955, it seemed prudent to sell casualty insurance, as well, so George and Dorothy earned licenses to sell insurance. In 1960, they affiliated with the Grange Mutual Casualty Company of Columbus - a union that remains intact today. Having established an insurance business, the team needed an office outside of the home. Dorothy retired from her teaching position to operate the business full-time. In 1967, the office moved to its current location on Market Street in downtown McArthur. That same year, George and Dorothy's son, David M. Booth, joined the firm. Their daughter, Janet Booth Bolender, joined the following year as an office assistant and insurance agent.
In 1975, the Real Estate business incorporated and the alliance with Central Realty ended. They established a second firm in Jackson in 1983, focusing on insurance services. That firm has since been sold to long-time employee, Terry Radekin. In 1993, David Randall Booth, the son of David M. Booth, joined the firm as a Real Estate seller and Insurance agent. The younger David is the fourth generation to enter into the family business. In 2002, Ruby Booth, David M. Booth's wife, signed on in an Administrative Support role.