MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Robert E. Musto Tennessee Insurance Hall of Fame, located inside the Jennings A. Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University, will host its Class of 2026 induction ceremony and gala on Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Smyrna Event Center.

A reception kicks off the event at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and the induction ceremony at 6 p.m. at the venue located at 100 Sam Ridley Parkway E in Smyrna, Tennessee.

The registration deadline for the event is Friday, Sept. 18, and registration can be completed through MTSU’s Marketplace here.

The Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose careers have significantly advanced the insurance profession through leadership, innovation, service and lasting contributions to the industry and the citizens of Tennessee, said Emily Zietz, MTSU economics and finance professor.

This year’s inductees include Kevin Doherty of Nashville, Marcus Henderson Sr. of Nashville, Bobby Queener of Murfreesboro, R. Larry Smith of Knoxville and Stuart Worden of Knoxville.

For additional information, contact Emily Zietz at [email protected] or visit https://martinchair.mtsu.edu/hall-of-fame/.

Class of 2026 inductees

• Kevin Doherty

Doherty is one of the nation’s foremost authorities on captive insurance, both playing a significant role in establishing Tennessee as one of the country’s premier captive insurance domiciles and leading the modernization of the state’s captive insurance statutes in 2011, which led to significant economic growth. He also founded the Tennessee Captive Insurance Association, currently serving as the director emeritus, and has mentored countless in the industry to help foster the next generation of its leaders.

Doherty balanced three decades of insurance work with a distinguished entertainment law practice, including earning multiple “Lawyer of the Year” awards from Captive International, among other honors; a role as a nationally recognized speaker, educator and author; and a deep commitment to public service through nonprofits and community organizations.

• Marcus Henderson Sr.

Henderson Sr. founded the Henderson Financial Group Inc. in 1989 and built it from the ground up into one of Tennessee’s top independent wealth advisory and insurance firms. Alongside it, he grew into a financial services leader who has defined his career by a commitment to helping individuals and families achieve long-term financial security, diving into multiple leadership roles throughout the industry and community to further his commitments to top-tier financial expertise and public service.

He is a life member of the financial advisor trade association Million Dollar Round Table, earning its “Top of the Table” qualifier designation. He has served as the president of both the Nashville and Tennessee chapters of the National Association of Life Underwriters, or NAIFA, as well as the treasurer and chief financial officer of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Nashville.

He also serves on numerous education, charitable and faith-based boards where he advises, mentors and engages with others on financial literacy and how to lead lives of service while strengthening the financial well-being of others.

• Bobby Queener

Queener’s distinguished career spans more than four decades in Tennessee’s insurance industry, marked by service across multiple firms, numerous prestigious awards, key leadership roles and an unwavering dedication to community service.

Queener began his career at the Tennessee Farm Bureau then continued his work at Shelter Insurance from 1996 onward, where he earned the Conference of Champions recognition, Tennessee Agent of the Year honors and an induction into the Shelter Insurance Hall of Fame. He held numerous leadership roles with NAIFA Tennessee, including president and treasurer.

In addition, he has prioritized giving back to the community through World Outreach Church, Deer Run Camps and MTSU’s Insurance Liaison Committee, while also funding multiple scholarships for students pursuing higher education.

• R. Larry Smith

Smith has devoted over 40 years in the industry not only to building an illustrious career but to strengthening the insurance profession as a whole. He has dedicated himself to educating agents and insurance professionals throughout the country, serving in dozens of business and professional organizations to uphold and further the business that has defined his working life.

Smith has earned multiple industry distinctions such as Million Dollar Round Table membership since 1989 and more than three dozen of their National Quality Awards. He also served as national president of NAIFA, advocating during his tenure for the industry and consumers on many legislative initiatives.

Smith also devotes time to community service, taking on multiple leadership roles within the American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, YMCA, Truist Bank Advisory Board and numerous others throughout East Tennessee.

• Stuart Worden

Worden devoted 71 years to the life insurance industry as a senior partner of Worden, Rechenback and Brook, establishing himself not only by his highest standard of professionalism but as a recognized expert in life insurance and estate planning.  

Worden founded the Knoxville Estate Planning Counsel, a forum for attorneys, accountants, trust officers and insurance professionals to exchange ideas and improve client service that thrives to this day. He has served as the president of the Knoxville Association of Life Underwriters, the Knoxville Chapter of the Society of the Chartered Life Underwriters and the Knoxville Estate Planning Counsel, all while consistently achieving Million Dollar Round Table status and investing many hours in mentoring and encouraging the next generation of industry professionals.

In addition, Worden has poured back into his community, helping raise $6 million for a new community YMCA of East Tennessee facility and playing a critical role in founding the East Tennessee Foundation.

About Musto Hall of Fame

The Robert E. Musto Tennessee Insurance Hall of Fame honors the late Robert E. Musto, long-time vice president of the National Life and Accident Insurance Co., whose family has generously provided funding to sustain the Hall of Fame’s mission. It was created at MTSU in 1999 under the aegis of the Insurance Liaison Committee of the Martin Chair of Insurance, currently held by economics and finance professor Dave Wood.

The Hall of Fame has benefited from the support of countless organizations and individuals, whose contributions help make the annual induction ceremony possible.

The Hall of Fame gives long-overdue credit to Tennessee insurance industry greats, spotlighting those who will be mentioned most prominently when a history of the state’s insurance industry is written. It honors those entrepreneurs who built insurance companies from the ground up and the agents and employees whose dedication transformed their companies, uplifted their communities, and advanced the role of insurance in society for the better.

— Stephanie Wagner ([email protected])