After 35 years, Henderson to retire from State Farm Insurance

By Karen Donato
Staff Writer
    At the end of the year Dallas Henderson will close out a 35-year career with State Farm Insurance Company. Henderson, is the son of the late Bob and Helen Henderson. He grew up on the White Settlement farm that has been in his family since 1861 and he and his wife Christine still live there today. After obtaining his college degree in the mid-1960s he returned to Houlton from South Carolina to work for Agway Insurance and farm with his father.
    In 1974 Henderson started the local State Farm Insurance Agency from scratch. He occupied office space in the Putnam Block in Market Square for a time and on Bangor Street before purchasing the corner lot of North and Bangor Streets some 20 years ago, where the State Farm office stands today.
    Henderson built his business one customer at a time and is now one of the most successful offices in the United States. He has the highest group of senior citizens and some of them have been with him for 30 years or more.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
HENDERSON TO RETIRE —Dallas Henderson is retiring from the State Farm Insurance Company after 35 years of dedicated service to his customers. Henderson plans to join his son, Sam in the real estate business after the first of the year.
    Client service is an important feature of Henderson’s successful career. He has paid attention to the needs of his customers, sometimes making personal visits to them if they were unable to get into the office.
    “I have developed many close relationships with my customers,” said Henderson. “And many of them have become good friends.”
    Henderson added, “My staff has also been a great support. My wife, Christine has worked with me through the years; Ruth Worthley, my office manager has been here nearly 30 years and Sylvia Quint, customer service representative has worked here more than 20 years.”
    “I have the most seasoned staff in the region,” he said, “which is rather unusual for this day and age when employees tend to move around from job to job.”
    He praised the residents of the greater Houlton area for his longevity and the many awards he has received because of their faithfulness and loyalty.
    Among the awards claimed by Henderson are, New England Man of the Year, several top 10 producers in America awards and Quality Career Agent designations.
    In order to be successful in business, Henderson believes that one needs to work hard, be honest and be involved in the community and he has done that well.
    Henderson has been a two-term president of the Houlton Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Salvation Army Board, has been either the chairman or director on both the Hodgdon and Greater Houlton Christian Academy boards of directors and a member of the Southern Aroostook Regional Development Corporation for three years.
    Even though this career is winding down, Henderson is ready to step into another. After the new year he will join his son, Sam in the Northern Maine Realty business. He is looking forward to having his son for a boss and assuming a secondary role as a real estate sales agent and associate broker. Even though he has enjoyed the insurance business, he is excited about a new adventure, getting out with a new kind of customer, exploring new properties and not having the responsibilities of a business full-time. Henderson will take the same qualities that have made him a success in the insurance business to the real estate market. He and his son will make a fine team.
    Henderson is a father to four sons, Bob, Corey, Sam and Aaron and grandfather of six.
    Doug Guerrette of Bangor will be assuming Henderson’s position at the Houlton office. He is a Caribou native and an agency field consultant for State Farm. Guerrette is looking forward to his new role and moving back to Aroostook County. Both Worthley and Quint will remain on staff.