Familiar voice at Shelter

Selling insurance is only one of the things Jim Talkington does. Many know him as the color commentator for Friday night football on KIOL radio. Fall will mark Talkington’s 20th year at the venture, he said.
Talkington also manages the “One Night Stand” series at Iola’s Community Theatre, where he is a board member.
And, he recently added a new hobby to his repertoire: T-ball coach for his 5-year-old son Will’s team.
“It’s a hoot,” Talkington said of working with the young players, many of whom are just as happy to play with the dirt in the ball field as to learn the game, he said.
Talkington holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Pittsburg State University.
Before becoming an insurance agent, he worked as the Chanute-based district manager for the Kansas State Lottery.
During that time, “the district manager of Shelter Insurance was out speaking to other businessmen, looking for good candidates” to become agents, he noted. “My name was submitted.”
Talkington grabbed the opportunity to return to his home town, and has never regretted the move.
“The lottery was a great job, but it was a lot of driving,” he said.
Talkington prefers community involvement, and appreciates Iola’s close-knit nature.
He shares an office at 20 N. Washington Ave. with his father, attorney Robert Talkington. “And I have a sister, Jackie Chase, in town.”
As for insurance, Talkington explains that “It’s protection against the unforeseen.”
Still, he notes, “Insurance is only as good as your agent.”
Because the industry and its products are highly regulated, Talkington said, buying insurance is actually buying the service of a particular agent.
“The thing that differentiates me (from other agents) is price and how someone thinks I could help them in the event of a loss,” he said.
It’s the personal touch that matters — and that keeps him in the business.
“I’m old-fashioned enough that I enjoy the face-to-face contact. I enjoy when people come in.”
Still, Talkington noted, “Today’s generation is more online savvy. They’re not afraid to check prices, to research and compare.” In fact, Talkington noted, “Most major companies” — Shelter included — “offer the ability to buy (insurance) online.”
Talkington’s products can be checked out at www.shelterinsurance.com/jamestalkington, he said, or contact him at jtalkington@shelterinsurance.com.
For those who, like Talkington, prefer to do business in person, office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Call 365-2042 for an appointment, or just drop by.
“If somebody needs to talk, I encourage that,” he said.
As a long-time Iolan in the public eye, he said, “I’m even stopped in the supermarket on weekends.” True to his nature, though, Talkington doesn’t mind.