Neely, Craig & Walton is the continuing operation of a partnership started as the Neely Greenhill Agency in Amarillo, Texas, on Oct. 1, 1926, for the purpose of selling and servicing various lines of general insurance. Original partners were Jeff M. Neely and Roy O. Greenhill.

The firm’s office was located at 506 S. Taylor for the first 40 years. Charley Lowndes joined the agency in 1931 as a producer and became a partner in 1939. Following the return of Mr. Lowndes from World War II in the mid-1940s, the agency name was changed to Neely-Greenhill-Lowndes. Jeff M. Neely, Jr. joined the firm in 1957 as a producer and became a partner in 1962. Due to the ill health of Mr. Greenhill, his interest was purchased by the other partners in 1962, and the name was changed to Neely-Lowndes & Neely.

The office was relocated to 1215 S. Georgia in 1966. Cliff Craig joined the firm as a producer in 1974 and became a partner in 1977. The name was changed in 1983 to Neely, Lowndes & Craig, reflecting the partnership interest of Mr. Craig. In 1984, the ownership interest of Jeff M. Neely, Sr. was purchased by his partners, although he continued as a producer for another year.

Jeff M. Neely III joined the firm in 1980 as a producer and became a partner in 1985. The agency moved back to downtown Amarillo in 1988 to its current location at 1101 S. Taylor. Mr. Lowndes's interest in the partnership was purchased in 1988, and he remained as a producer until 2001.

Merger with Insurance Specialists

Neely, Craig & Walton, L.L.P. began operation Jan. 1, 1992, as a result of the merger of two Amarillo general insurance agencies. The principals of Neely, Lowndes & Craig and Insurance Specialists -- whose roots trace back to 1938 -- believed that a merger of operations offered each firm the opportunity to grow and prosper beyond the ability of either firm alone. Markets were complementary and the principals were of such ages that both perpetuation and marketing opportunities were enhanced.

The current partnership includes Jeff Neely III, originally from Neely, Lowndes & Craig, Steve Walton and Kimberly Dryden from Insurance Specialists, and in 2008, Julie Hulsey from Insurance Professionals. In addition to the primary office at 1101 S. Taylor in Amarillo, other Texas offices have been opened in Fort Worth, Claude and San Marcos. Each office offers all lines of insurance products, including commercial, professional and personal lines, plus life and health and group products.

In addition to the partners, the staff includes seven producers - Sandy Campbell, Cliff Craig, John Dotson, Jim Hubbard, Jeff Neely, Jr., Brandon Neely, and Richard Walton and more than 20 highly trained certified customer service representatives.