South-West Insurance Agency, Inc.

"Real People Answer Our Phones"

This page is still under construction.  Please send us any state championship photographs or historical photographs of our region for consideration of use in our timeline. You can send your photographs to beasterling@s-west.com.

1877

  1. Karlan Mansion Wilderness Road State Park Built

    01 January 1877

    1877 - Karlan Mansion Wilderness Road State Park Built

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1908

  1. South-West Insurance Agency Founded

    01 January 1908

    South-West Insurance Agency was founded under the name of Beverly Witt, and Company

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1910

  1. Colonial Hotel (Inn at Wise) was built

    01 January 1910

    Colonial-Hotel-Hotel

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  2. Construction begins on Big Stone Gap Federal Building (bottom picture)

    01 January 1910

    1910 - Construction begins on Big Stone Gap Federal Building - bottom

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1911

  1. Norton Insurance formed

    01 January 1911

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  2. Town of St. Paul chartered

    01 January 1911

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  3. Steamroller in Coeburn

    01 January 1911

    1911 Steamroller in COEBURN

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1913

  1. Virginia Kentucky District Fair begins

    01 January 1913

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1914

  1. South-West Insurance Agency, Inc.

    01 January 1914

    The firm was incorporated in the state of Virginia, taking the name of South-West Insurance Agency, Inc.

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1917

  1. US declares war on Germany

    06 April 1917

    us-declares-war-germany

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1920

  1. Prohibition enacted (Volstead Act)

    16 January 1920

    bottles_COX0009 TIMELINE 1920

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1922

  1. South-West Insurance covering Big Stone Gap’s first automobiles

    01 January 1922

    1922 - South-West Insurance Covering Big Stone Gap's First Automobiles

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1923

  1. Virginia Governor Abner Linwood Holton, Jr. born in Big Stone Gap

    21 September 1923

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1924

  1. Town of Gladeville changed to Town of Wise

    01 January 1924

    CoxGladeville-Wise-copy-TIMELINE

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1925

  1. Stonega Community Band

    01 January 1925

    1925 Stonega Community Band

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1927

  1. George C. Scott born in Wise, VA

    19 October 1927

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1928

  1. McCorkle Lumber Corp near Appalachia

    01 January 1928

    1928 - McCorkle Lumber Corp Near Appalachia

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  2. Napoleon Hill publishes “The Law of Success,” pictured with Edison

    01 January 1928

    1928 - Napoleon Hill Publishes The Law of Success pictured with Edison

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1930

  1. 01 January 1930

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  2. Norton Hardware Company

    01 January 1930

    1930 - Norton Hardware Company

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1933

  1. Andy L. Witt becomes president of the corporation

    01 January 1933

    A-L-Witt

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1935

  1. Colonial Hotel, “Inn at Wise”

    01 January 1935

    1935 - Colonial Hotel Inn at Wise

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1940

  1. 01 January 1940

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  2. Norton, VA

    01 January 1940

    1940 - Norton VA

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1941

  1. Japan attacks US at Pearl Harbor

    07 December 1941

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  2. Floyd W. Witt, Sr., son of Andy, joins the firm

    01 January 1941

    Floyd-W-Witt

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1944

  1. D-Day Invasion at Normandy

    06 June 1944

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1945

  1. Bolling Theatre – Norton, VA

    01 January 1945

    1945 - Bolling Theatre, Norton

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  2. Pound High School basketball

    01 January 1945

    1945 - Pound High School Basketball

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1946

  1. Town of Pound incorporated

    10 June 1946

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1947

  1. Historic Cudjo is taken over by the Commonwealth of VA

    01 January 1947

    1947 Historic Cudjo is taken over by the Commonwealth of VA

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1948

  1. Robert Porterfield starts VA Highlands Festival

    01 January 1948

    1948 - Robert Porterfield Starts Va Highlands Festivals-2

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1949

  1. JJ Kelley High School girls basketball

    01 January 1949

    1949 JJ Kelley High School Girls Basketball

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1950

  1. Korean War begins

    25 June 1950

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1952

  1. Big Stone Gap Junior Band featuring Agency CEO Winston Witt and many associates of the agency

    01 January 1952

    TimelinePhotos 014

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1954

  1. Clinch Valley College opens

    01 September 1954

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  2. Town of Norton granted a City Charter by the Virginia General Assembly

    06 April 1954

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1955

  1. Vietnam War begins

    01 November 1955

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1958

  1. John I Burton District 8 Champions

    01 January 1958

    TimelinePhotos 035b

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1959

  1. Big Stone Gap High School, final graduating class

    01 January 1959

    1959 - Big Stone Gap High School, Final Graduating Class

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1960

  1. 01 January 1960

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  2. Trial of U2 spy pilot, Francis Gary Powers

    01 January 1960

    1960 - trial of U2 Spy Pilot Francis Gary Powers

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1961

  1. Wise County Native Tracy Stallard pitched for several baseball teams in the Major Leagues

    01 January 1961

    TimelinePhotos 001

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1963

  1. President John F. Kennedy assassinated

    22 November 1963

    kennedy-assassination

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  2. “Trail of the Lonesome Pine” Outdoor Drama begins its run

    01 June 1963

    Summer-1963

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1966

  1. Floyd W. Witt, Sr. becomes president of the corporation

    01 January 1966

    Floyd-W-Witt

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1969

  1. Neil Armstrong becomes first man to walk on the moon

    20 July 1969

    nasa-armstrong-moon-464435main_S69-31741_4x3_1600-1200

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1970

  1. Bad date

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1972

  1. Watergate break-in

    17 June 1972

    nixon-resigns

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  2. Classes begin at Mountain Empire Community College

    01 January 1972

    1972 - Classes Begin at Mountain Empire Community College

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1974

  1. Floyd W. Witt, Jr. joins the firm

    01 January 1974

    floyd-w-witt-1977

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1975

  1. Chancellor Joe Smiddy: Papa Joe served as Clinch Valley College’s (now UVA-Wise) first chancellor

    01 January 1975

    TimelinePhotos 006

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1976

  1. Pro-Art Association is organized

    01 January 1976

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  2. Powell Valley High School Basketball coached by Burrall Paye

    01 January 1976

    TimelinePhotos 009

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1977

  1. Wise County flood

    07 April 1977

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  2. Floyd W. Witt, Jr. becomes president of the corporation

    01 January 1977

    Winston-Witt-Chairman-WEB

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1978

  1. Elizabeth Taylor chokes on chicken bone in Big Stone Gap

    12 October 1978

    elizabeth-taylor-chokes-on-chicken-bone

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1979

  1. Tommy Lee Jones arrested in Pound, VA while filming “Coal Miner’s Daughter” in Wise County

    15 March 1979

    tommy-lee-jones-arrested-pound-va

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1980

  1. 01 January 1980

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1981

  1. Wise County Courthouse added to the National Register of Historic Places

    01 January 1981

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  2. Michael L. Allen joins the firm

    01 January 1981

    Mike-Allen-WEB

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1985

  1. Wise County Food Bank established

    01 January 1985

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1988

  1. Dale wins Bristol

    01 January 1988

    1988 - Dale WINS BRISTOL

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1990

  1. Operation Desert Shield begins

    01 August 1990

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1991

  1. Operation Desert Storm launched

    01 January 1991

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  2. Inn at Wise added to the National Register of Historic Places

    01 January 1991

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1993

  1. South-West Insurance purchases Norton Insurance

    01 January 1993

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  2. James “Kenny” Gilley joins the firm

    01 January 1993

    James-K-Gilley-WEB

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1994

  1. South-West /Lee Insurance Golf Outing (pictured left to right) Ben Allen, Agency CEO Winston Witt, Roy Robertson, Agency Sr. Vice President Kenny Gilley

    01 January 1994

    TimelinePhotos 040b

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1995

  1. Michael L. Allen becomes president of the corporation

    01 January 1995

    Mike-Allen-WEB

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  2. Floyd W. Witt, Jr. is appointed as CEO

    01 January 1995

    Winston-Witt-Chairman-WEB

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1996

  1. Battle of the Boot: Lee High vs. Powell Valley High School

    01 January 1996

    TimelinePhotos 019

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  2. Legendary Appalachia Bulldog Coach Tom Turner directs his “Dawgs”

    01 January 1996

    TimelinePhotos 023

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1997

  1. Appalachian School of Law opens

    01 August 1997

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1998

  1. Clinch Valley College becomes The University of Virginia’s College at Wise

    01 January 1998

    1998 - Clinch Valley College becomes The University of Virginia's College at Wise

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1999

  1. Wallens Ridge State Prison opens

    01 April 1999

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2000

  1. Golf Outing (pictured left to right) Agency President Mike Allen, Cotton Stone, Gordon Sandt, Brad Simmons

    01 January 2000

    TimelinePhotos 043b

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2001

  1. Grundy flood control project begins

    01 January 2001

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  2. Ralph Stanley wins Grammy for O Brother, Where Art Thou

    01 January 2001

    2001 - Ralph Stanley Wins Grammy for O Brother Where Art Thou

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2003

  1. The Crooked Road Music Heritage Trail planning begins

    01 January 2003

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  2. Coach Jim Adams: John I. Burton Region D Champions

    01 January 2003

    TimelinePhotos 005

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  3. Rhythm and Roots Reunion begins, Bristol, VA/TN

    01 January 2003

    2003 Rhythm and Roots Reunion Begins, Bristol VA TN

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2004

  1. Jessica Parrot joins the firm

    01 January 2004

    Jessica-Parrott-WEB

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  2. Town of Grundy Relocates

    01 January 2004

    2004 Town of GRUNDY Grundy Relocates

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2005

  1. Hurricane Katrina hits Gulf Coast

    29 August 2005

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  2. Appalachian College of Pharmacy opens

    01 August 2005

    _COX3744 ASof Pharmacy 2005

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  3. Lee County Veterans War Memorial, Cumberland Bowl Park, Jonesville, VA

    01 January 2005

    2005 - Lee County Veterans War Memorial, Cumberland Bowl Park, Jonesville VA

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2006

  1. Ryan W. Witt joins the firm

    01 January 2006

    Ryan-Witt-WEB

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  2. South-West Insurance is a Proud Supporter of UVA-Wise

    01 January 2006

    TimelinePhotos 037b

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  3. Dr. Ralph Stanley & Larkin Turner

    01 January 2006

    TimelinePhotos 051b

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  4. Dominion construction in St. Paul, VA

    01 January 2006

    2006 - Dominion Construction in St.Paul VA

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2007

  1. High Knob Tower destroyed in fire

    01 January 2007

    2007 - High Knob Tower destroyed in fire

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2008

  1. South-West Insurance celebrates 100 years in business

    01 January 2008

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  2. EF-1 tornado touches down in Big Stone Gap

    01 January 2008

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  3. Pigskin Picks Radio Show sponsored by South-West Insurance Agency

    01 January 2008

    TimelinePhotos 026

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2009

  1. South-West Insurance Agency’s Christmas party interrupted due to blizzard of the century

    18 December 2009

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  2. Molly Slemp at Rhythm and Roots

    01 January 2009

    Molly Slemp R&R 09-2009

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  3. Sister Bernie recognized for establishing Health Care in Southwest VA for Remote Area Medicine Volunteers

    01 January 2009

    2009 - Sister Bernie Recognized for establishing Health Care in Southwest VA fo Remote Area Medicine Volunteers

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2010

  1. Powell Valley High School Coached by Zac Moore 2010 LPD Champions

    01 January 2010

    TimelinePhotos 030b

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2011

  1. Wise County Schools consolidate

    01 August 2011

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2012

  1. The University of Virginia’s College at Wise Convocation

    19 December 2012

    UVA-Wise Convocation 12-19-2012 SWI

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  2. Henry becomes 8th Chancelor of The University Virgina’s College at Wise

    01 January 2012

    2012 - Henry becomes Current and 8th Chancelor of The University Virgina's College at Wise

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2013

  1. Filming of ‘Big Stone Gap’ – the movie

    01 October 2013

    big-stone-gap-movie

    The stars talk about the movie here.

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