Our mission is to be the foremost provider of insurance and related services.
This agency was founded in 1913 as the G. H. Winton Insurance Agency. At that time, Mr. Winton was the cashier at the First Bank of Livingston. The insurance business was only a sideline for several years.
In 1924, Mr. Winton resigned his bank position to devote full time to his insurance agency. Little did he know that 30 years later he would again be working in the First Bank of Livingston building; this time owning the building and his own business. That office at 503 Main Street (it was Third Street until 1989) still houses our Livingston office.
Upon returning home from service in World War II, Keith Winton joined his father's business. In 1954, they formed a partnership and changed the name to Winton Insurance Agency. At that time, the agency also sold real estate, completed income tax returns, acted as a Notary Public, and even collected consumer payments for PG&E and the City of Livingston.
Keith Winton purchased his father's interest in 1956. By 1975, the business limited its sales activities to general insurance and life insurance.
Mike Ireland joined the company in 1973, and became a partner in 1974. In 1975, the partnership purchased the F. W. Andrew Insurance Agency, and opened a second office in Turlock. Keith Winton died in 1983, but not before he saw the company enjoy a 650% increase in business from the time he started.
Rick Adams, a native of Turlock, joined the agency in 1985 as Business Manager / Account Executive. He was made a shareholder and officer of the corporation in 1987.
In January 2013, the agency will be celebrating our 100th anniversary.
STROM & GREEN INSURANCE AGENCY
After years in the grocery business, Dewey W. Green purchased a small book of business from a Preferred Risk Mutual agent in Turlock. The year was 1964. As the agency grew, he purchased another book of business from Ed Backman in 1967, and the Fred Caulkins Agency in 1970.
By 1971, the agency name was changed from Dewey W. Green Insurance to Green's Insurance Agency. Dewey's son, Ted L. Green, joined the agency about the same time, and became a partner in 1972. In July, 1977, as Dewey approached retirement, he sold his interest to his son Ted, and E. Marvin Strom. Shortly after, the name was changed to Strom & Green Insurance Agency.
In September, 1988, the two agencies formed Winton-Ireland, Strom & Green Insurance Agency. After Strom & Green moved into Winton-Ireland's office at 116 S. Center, it didn't take long to realize a much larger building was necessary; we were bulging at the seams.
For more than a year, the Turlock employees endured the cramped quarters at 116 S. Center Street. But it was well worth the wait. In October, 1990, after a long year of planning, construction and remodeling, the old Church of Christ property at 627 E. Canal was finally ready to be the new Turlock home for Winton-Ireland, Strom & Green Insurance Agency.
Currently, the Turlock office has the main building as described above, with two other office suites on the property, and a total work force of 85 employees at this location.
JAMES QUINN & SONS INSURANCE AGENCY
James F. Quinn entered the life insurance industry in 1945. Seeking expansion to property and casualty lines, Mr. Quinn obtained an appointment with Aetna in 1950. Between 1950 and 1966, the agency grew to about $200,000 in premiums while located in the 2nd story of the Black Building at 1115 I Street in Modesto.
In September, 1966, son Tom joined the agency. In 1968, James Quinn & Sons purchased the Clarence Johnson Agency and moved to a new location at 1105 14th Street. Six years later, the agency purchased Riverbank Insurance Agency at 6717 3rd Street in Riverbank.
In 1977, James Quinn & Sons purchased the L.T. Moss Agency, which was established in Modesto in 1901. We still have some accounts evidencing continuous coverage through generations back to 1901.
In January of 1978, son Jeff joined the agency. In December, 1981, the agency was incorporated and its founder, James F. Quinn, retired. In June of 1984, daughter Nancy joined the agency.
On Thanksgiving weekend, 1991, the agency moved to its current location at 1100 14th Street, Suite C in Modesto.
On January 1, 1993, the agency merged with Winton-Ireland Insurance Agency, Inc. The Modesto office has 15 employees working at this location.
BONDSHU INSURANCE AGENCY
Frank A. Bondshu was twenty-six years old when he founded Bondshu Insurance Agency (although not yet named) in 1897. At that time, he was also the Mariposa County Auditor / Recorder.
In the 1930's, F. A. Bondshu purchased the Judge J. J. Carleton Insurance Agency. He brought his son, Harold, into the business in 1940 and they changed the name to F.A. Bondshu & Son, Title Company and Insurance Agency. In addition, Frank and Harold were also Real Estate Brokers.
In 1956, Harold's son, Robert E. Bondshu returned from the Air Force and joined the family business. Eventually, Harold persuaded his son to focus his energies on the insurance industry. Concurrently, Harold H. Bondshu named his title business Mariposa County Title Company, and he and Bob formed the H. H. Bondshu & Son Insurance Agency.
In 1970, Harold retired and the name was changed to Bondshu Insurance Agency. Shortly after, Bob Bondshu purchased several local small agencies, including the Ruth Womack Insurance Agency, the Ruth Robeson Agency and the Juanita Dawson-Moore Insurance Agency.
Robert's son, Bill, joined the agency in 1980 and became the sole Principal in 1991. On January 1, 1993, the agency merged with Winton-Ireland Insurance Agency, Inc.
GAJARIAN INSURANCE ASSOCIATES
After four plus years with a major insurance company, Ron Gajarian entered the agency business from scratch in August of 1969. He and a partner did business in Fresno as R&R Insurance. Ron purchased his partner’s interest two years later, and in 1972 formed Vived and Gajarian Insurance Associates, Inc. with George Vived.
Through hard work, personal production, and some acquisition, the agency expanded and grew over the next eleven years. In May of 1983, Ron and George joined forces with two other agencies and formed a modified cluster doing business as San Joaquin Valley Insurance Associates, Inc.
In December of 1996, Ron elected to open his own office and relinquish his interests in SJVIA.
With the affiliation and support of Winton-Ireland Strom & Green, Gajarian Insurance Associates is a growing, thriving agency affording sound representation in the Fresno area.
FREEBERG INSURANCE ASSOCIATES
The Hilmar office building at 8259 Lander Avenue, was the original, primary agency of The Merced County Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In the 1950’s, the site was sold to Homer L. Shoffner, who subsequently purchased the Dwayne Anderson Agency clientele.
The Homer L. Shoffner Agency also became a Charter SAFECO Insurance Co. agency in 1955 – one of about 30 at the time in the state. Homer retired in 1978 and sold to the Lorenzi-Masasso Agency, and Christopher Freeberg came up to Hilmar to manage the operation.
In 1983, Chris bought out the L-M group with Ronald Fitzgerald and formed the Freeberg & Fitzgerald Insurance Associates, Inc. and operated as such until December of 1996 when Chris joined forces with Winton-Ireland Insurance Agency, Inc. This office was subsequently closed and the employees and book of business were transferred to the Turlock location.
UNDERWOOD INSURANCE AGENCY
The Underwood Insurance Agency was established in Oakhurst in 1961 under the direction of Tommy Underwood. Robin Underwood, Tommy’s son, joined his father in 1978. Robin affiliated with Winton-Ireland in 1994, shortly after Tommy retired. Robin is joined by his wife Diane. The office services the Sierras and surrounding area providing a full line of insurance products.