About Us

This agency was founded in 1912 by D. L. Mills. Mr. Mills ran the agency for many years and eventually his son took over and operated the business until 1975, at which time it was sold to Emery Zillgitt. Mr. Zillgitt, along with his son, ran the agency from the mid-1960's. In 1976 Zillgitt hired me (Bob Kemp), a young inspired college graduate, as an agent. I worked along with Mr. Zillgitt for eight years and then purchased the agency in 1984 when Mr. Zillgitt retired.

I feel very strongly about Lake City and have longtime ties to the area. I am a 4th generation Lake Citian. My great grandfather settled here about 1877 and started a dry goods store in what is now the Wise Hardware Building. The original building was destroyed in a major fire around 1880 and was rebuilt. Around 1900, the building where the agency is now housed at 108 E. Center Street was purchased to expand the dry goods store. The store was known as Kemp Dry Goods and then became Kemp & Roschen. My grandfather took over the store sometime around 1910 and finally retired in about 1940, at which time the store was closed.

My father worked at DiAcro, a factory here in Lake City. I returned to Lake City in 1976 after
graduating from St. John's University with a degree in Business Administration.

The agency now has three real estate agents (including the broker), two full time insurance agents and our office manager, who has been here the longest of anyone, working for Mr. Mills, Mr. Zillgitt, and now myself. In fact, she constantly reminds me that I started out as her paper boy back in the 60's. So there it is ... a rich history all around to this hometown agency.