Our History
Established in 1958 by former Marine Emmett Lee Meadows as a full-service insurance organization, Elmco operates as both an agent and broker for all lines of personal and business insurance. In 1962, Lee’s first full year as an agent for John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company. The following year, he qualified to be a member of the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table. However, he didn’t achieve this alone; his wife Jean gathered names of birth and marriage records at the County Recorder’s Office for their direct mail marketing every week. He qualified for the MDRT eleven years in a row, making him a lifetime member.
Lee’s successful life insurance career expanded to selling property and casualty insurance. His agency, Elmco Insurance, Inc. (Emmett Lonnie Meadows Corporation), moved into an office he bought located at 1905 N. Main in Santa Ana. The agency started with Lee and three other employees and later grew to a staff of 16. Lee was very pleased when his son, Tom, joined the team in 1973. Elmco has represented many insurance carriers and has achieved a high reputation in the industry. Lee served as Elmco’s president until 1988, when he then turned the operation over to his son, Tom.
After years of faithful service, Tom transitioned into the role of Chief Financial Officer. In 2019, Jamie Richardson, Tom’s daughter and Lee’s granddaughter, became the President. Sadly, in March 2020, Lee passed away, but his legacy will continue to live on through the family business.
Important Note: This website provides only a simplified description of coverages and is not a statement of contract. Coverage may not apply in all states. For complete details of coverages, conditions, limits, and losses not covered, be sure to read the policy, including all endorsements.
