Paul
M. Phipps entered the property & casualty insurance
business on October 2, 1950, after working for
two years as a life insurance underwriter with
The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York.
Paul Phipps, a graduate of Hopkinton
High School, Class of 1939 and Holy Cross College,
Worcester, MA, Class of 1943, served four years
of active duty in the United States Marine Corps
during World War II, in the Pacific operations,
final rank Captain. Under the "G.I. Bill", he
completed a graduate year at Babson Institute
of Business Administration, now Babson College,
Wellesley, MA.
In 1948, he joined
the sales force of Mutual Life of New York.
Paul Phipps, and his wife, Ruth, lived in Framingham,
MA, working exclusively with Mutual of New York,
until the opportunity to acquire the Wayne E.
Hughes Insurance Agency, 80 Main Street, Hopkinton,
MA., prompted him to establish his insurance
business in Hopkinton.
As the town
of Hopkinton continued to grow so too did the
Phipps Agency. In 1975, Paul's son, Robert A.
Phipps, joined the agency. Rob is a 1973 graduate
of Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA.
After preliminary training within the agency,
he completed courses at the Aetna Casualty &
Surety Company Home Office School, Hartford,
CT, The Mutual Institute of the Kemper Companies
at Long Grove, Illinois(Chicago), and Oberlin
College, OH. Rob went on to obtain the highly
regarded Certified Insurance Counselor (C.I.C.)
designation. Robert was elected Vice-President
of the agency in 1980 and President in 1990.
The agency has always been an integral
part of the Hopkinton community, with agency
principals taking prominent roles and the agency
a willing sponsor. Paul M. Phipps was a charter
member of the Hopkinton Kiwanis Club, a past
president and secretary; a founder of the Hopkinton
Little League, a president of the League, and
also a team manager for 15 years; Founder of
the Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce and Chairman
for three years; active in Boy Scouts, including
fund raising; Chairman of most other fund drives,
including Cancer, Heart & March of Dimes; member
of Elmwood School building committee; Coach
of CYO baseball teams and Chairman of St. John’s
RC Church Finance Committee and fund Drive for
new Parish Center.
Robert Phipps,
Agency President, is a corporator of the Strata
Bank in Hopkinton and served on the Board of
Directors of the Hopkinton Education Foundation
for four years. He was an active member of the
Hopkinton Parks and Recreation Commission for
14 years and was also the chairman of the Town
of Hopkinton Marathon Committee for 14 years.
Rob was active in coaching Little League baseball
and softball and Babe Ruth for 15 years and
has been a member of the Hopkinton Lions Club
since 1983. Rob was honored as Middlesex News
Man of the Year in 1996
On June 19,
1989, Brian E. Thomas, Executive Vice President
and a 1988 graduate of the University of Maine
at Orono, joined the agency. He completed the
Aetna Casualty & Surety Company Home Office
School, Hartford, CT and went on to earn membership
in the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors
in November of 1992. Brian is a past board member
of the Hopkinton Chamber of Commerce and the
Hopkinton Community Endowment. He has coached
little league, basketball and soccer. In April
of 1996 Brian and Paul Phipps were inducted
into the Hopkinton High School Athletic Hall
of Fame. Brian, a life long resident of Hopkinton,
continues to reside in town with his wife, Pam,
and two daughters, Rebecca & Nicole.