Drawert Honored with ICT’s Raymond Mauk Award

Jim Drawert, vice president and chief underwriting officer for The Republic Group, was presented the Raymond Mauk Leadership Award on July 14, at the Insurance Council of Texas’ 13th Annual Mid-Year Property and Casualty Symposium.

Drawert becomes the eighth recipient of the prestigious insurance award.

The ICT presents the Raymond Mauk Leadership Award at its Mid-Year Property and Casualty Insurance Symposium in Austin each year. It is the organization’s highest honor and is intended to bestow recognition on those whose labor has made a significant difference in the business of insurance.

Drawert rose through the ranks of the insurance industry, starting his career at Travelers back in 1964. He held a variety of management positions at Travelers over the next 18 years that involved him in all aspects of underwriting, marketing and processing.

In 1982, Drawert joined Trinity Universal Insurance Company in Dallas as vice president of marketing. He progressed through several positions of increasing responsibility to become president and assume overall responsibility for some 11 states and $300 million in premium.

In 1994, Drawert joined CNA Insurance Company as senior vice president and chief operating officer for the southwest region. In 2000, Drawert accepted the responsibility of turning around Millers Mutual, a longtime Texas company that was in distress. In 2003, Drawert joined The Republic Group in Dallas.

Drawert has had a distinguished career in the industry having served as chairman of the Association of Fire and Casualty Companies in Texas (AFACT) and vice chairman of the Texas Insurance Advisory Association. He has served on various committees of the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas and currently serves as chairman of ICT’s Windpool Committee, which allows him to exercise a career-long interest in the affairs of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association and similar organizations.

From the beginning of the merger that created the Insurance Council of Texas, Drawert held the vision that the organization could capitalize on the traditions and services of its predecessors while at the same time establishing itself as an innovative and proactive Texas industry association. He has contributed his time and ideas – such as advocating that ICT begin a college scholarship program – and helped create and nurture the relationships that are necessary to achieve success.

The Raymond Mauk Award honors former Texas Fire Commissioner Raymond Mauk and annually recognizes someone who has made a notable contribution to the Texas property and casualty insurance industry.

Mauk enjoyed a long and distinguished career and held many positions of leadership within his company and industry organizations.

More than 70 years ago, Commissioner Mauk was convinced that fundamental change was needed to protect the insurance buying public and the integrity of the marketplace from the misapplication of rates and forms.

To accomplish his goal, Mauk envisioned the creation of a central checking office that would enforce good business practices and audit the insurance industry’s paperwork for errors and competitive greed. Often facing great opposition and the traditional resistance to change, Mauk labored for two years to build support form both agents and companies.

By February 1935, Mauk’s leadership had led to the successful establishment of the Texas Insurance Checking Office, an institution, which continues to serve the Texas industry today.

The Insurance Council of Texas is the largest insurance trade association in the state consisting of more than 500 property and casualty insurers writing business in Texas.