Crop Insurance Today Second Quarter 2020 - 44

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In Memory of Gene McAdam
Eugene "Gene" McAdam, 96, passed away on
April 6, 2020, at Presbyterian Manor of the Plains
in Dodge City, Kan. He was born on September
16, 1923, in Cleveland, Kan., and married Maxine Struble on January 26, 1948.
After serving in the Army Air Corps during
World War II, Gene spent his adult life working in the insurance industry. He started in the
business with his father and one of his brothers
at McAdam and Sons Real Estate and Insurance
in Kingman, Kan. In 1966 he went to work for
the Cimarron Insurance Company as a property/casualty field agent. The family moved to Cimarron, Kan., in 1969 when he became assistant
manager and then manager of the crop insurance
department until his retirement in 2002.
Long-time friend and coworker, Larry Burkhart, met Gene almost 50 years ago when
Burkhart applied for a trainee position as a
per diem crop hail adjuster with Cimarron
Insurance Company.
"Gene hired me as a trainee, but he had two
requirements," Burkhart said. "He said 'get a haircut and buy some khaki pants, you can't adjust
wearing jeans.' I worked for and with Gene for
many years and, even after his retirement, we
talked often, and I always valued his opinion."
Gene was a well-known highly respected
member of the crop insurance industry. In addition to serving as Cimarron's Crop-Hail Manager
for 36 years, he was also a member of the CropHail Insurance Actuarial Association's (a predecessor to National Crop Insurance Services) executive committee from 1981-1989.
"Gene had an impact on many adjusters
through the years," Burkhart said. "Some are still
working for various [crop insurance] companies
today. He was a mentor and a good friend to
many over the years. He will be missed."
After retirement, Gene worked part-time as a
field representative for Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa.
Another of Gene's coworkers, Larry Ewart,
worked with Gene at Cimarron and at Farmers
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SECONDQUARTER2020

Mutual Hail. He said Gene's contributions and
leadership in the Crop-Hail business were recognized by all who crossed his path.
"Gene was a soft-spoken gentleman with a
warm personality," Ewart said. "He was truly respected by agents, adjusters, and his peers."
Mike Sieben, who worked for Kansas Farm
Bureau during the time that Gene was with Cimarron said that Gene always had a calm demeanor about him.
"Even though Gene was a competitor, I was always able to talk crop insurance with him," Mike
said. "He was a good man and will be missed."
In addition to his illustrious career, Gene was
a devoted grandfather, a world traveler, an avid

reader, an active golfer, a regular at various coffee
shops in Cimarron, and served on the Cimarron
City Council for several years.
Gene is survived by two sons, three daughters, two sisters, nine grandchildren, and two
great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death
by his wife of 67 years, his parents, his brothers Paul, Dick, Pat, Joe, Mark, and Bill; and one
sister, Kathleen.
Memorials are suggested to Hospice of the
Prairie or Dodge City Special Olympics in care
of Swaim Funeral Home, 1901 6th Ave, Dodge
City, KS, 67801. Thoughts and memories may be
shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.

http://ag-risk.org http://www.swaimfuneralhome.com http://www.swaimfuneralhome.com

Crop Insurance Today Second Quarter 2020

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