MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Robert E. Musto Tennessee Insurance Hall of Fame, located in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University, will host its Class of 2025 induction ceremony and gala on Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Stones River Country Club.

This year’s inductees, as chosen by the hall’s selection committee, are: Timothy Coomer*, of Brentwood; Deborah Ropelewski, of Nashville; Howard “Bud” Sherrod, of Knoxville; Carl Gibbs Smith Jr.*, of Nashville; June Wilkinson Taylor, of White House; and Frank Frederick White Jr.*, of Nashville. (* Inducted posthumously)

The registration deadline is Monday, Sept. 15, and registration can be completed through MTSU’s Marketplace here. For more information, contact Emily Zietz at Emily.Zietz@mtsu.edu.

The Musto Hall of Fame recently received a proclamation from the Tennessee General Assembly, officially designating it as the state of Tennessee’s Insurance Hall of Fame.

Class of 2025 inductees

• Timothy Coomer

Coomer’s outstanding contributions to the insurance industry, particularly his innovative development of software and analytical models, have made a lasting impact and positioned him as a respected leader and visionary in the field. 

The committee was especially impressed by his entrepreneurial accomplishments, authorship of several influential books, and his commitment to community service across a wide range of areas. These achievements embody the spirit and standards of excellence that define this prestigious honor.

• Deborah Ropelewski

Ropelewski’s many years of dedicated service to the insurance industry, her leadership in promoting education through PLUS, her mentorship of countless students, including MTSU interns, and her involvement on numerous professional boards, among many other accomplishments, made her a truly outstanding and deserving candidate for this honor. 

Ropelewski has spent decades in the professional liability sector and has given selflessly of her time in writing curriculum, delivering quality insurance education resources, and writing many articles on critical insurance topics. 

• Howard “Bud” Sherrod

Sherrod’s outstanding contributions to the insurance industry, particularly through his leadership in insurance, risk management, and employee benefit services, have made a lasting impact across Tennessee and beyond. 

The committee also recognized his entrepreneurial vision and the breadth of his public and community service, which further strengthened his candidacy and reflected the values and spirit of this prestigious distinction.

• Carl Gibbs Smith Jr.

Smith’s many contributions to the life insurance industry, particularly through his leadership and service with the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) Tennessee, paved the way for countless others to grow and succeed in the profession. 

Beyond his professional accomplishments, his humility and generosity left a lasting impact on those who had the privilege to know and work alongside him, qualities that made him a natural and worthy candidate for this honor, according to the committee.

• June Wilkinson Taylor

Taylor’s many years of dedicated service in the insurance industry, along with her exceptional leadership with organizations such as the Professional Insurance Agents (PIA), National Association of Insurance Women (NAIW), and the Martin Chair of Insurance at MTSU, have made a lasting impact on many people. 

The committee referred to her as “clearly a trailblazer in the insurance industry, having been the first woman in Tennessee to earn her Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation. In addition, her deep commitment to community service and her broad range of professional accomplishments made her truly a deserving candidate for the Hall of Fame.”

• Frank Frederick White Jr.

White’s lasting contributions to the life insurance industry, including his impactful work with Willis and their jointly owned brokerage firm, helped pave the way for others to thrive in the field. 

In addition, his commitment to community service, particularly his involvement with United Way and the Boy Scouts of America, further exemplified the values and leadership that made him such a deserving recipient of this honor.

About Musto Hall of Fame

The Robert E. Musto Tennessee Insurance Hall of Fame was created at MTSU in 1999 under the aegis of the Insurance Liaison Committee of the Martin Chair of Insurance at MTSU.

The  Hall of Fame is named in honor of the late Robert E. Musto, long-time vice president of the National Life and Accident Insurance Company, whose family has generously provided funding.

The Hall of Fame has benefited from the generous support of many organizations and individuals over the years, whose contributions have helped sustain the annual induction ceremony. This year’s gala is being sponsored in large part by Willis/WTW, joining a long line of past sponsors whose support has made the event possible.

The Tennessee Insurance Hall of Fame was created to give long-overdue credit to the greats of the insurance industry in Tennessee. It honors those entrepreneurs who created insurance companies and those agents and company employees who made a difference in their companies and their communities, who significantly impacted the lives of many people and advanced the role of insurance in society.

The Hall of Fame honors people whose names will be mentioned most prominently when a history of the insurance industry in Tennessee is written.