History of the Agency

In 1928, Cooper Cubbedge, Charles Walpole, and Francis Walpole opened a main-street American insurance business in Sarasota, Florida known as the Cubbedge-Walpole Company, Inc. Sarasota was still a small town, home to a few hardware stores, light manufacturing companies, restaurants, offices, and the famed Ringling Brothers Circus. It was the year that Mickey Mouse first appeared in Steamboat Willie and Duke Ellington was dominating the radio waves.

In 1933, Cooper Cubbedge moved to Jacksonville and Francis opened a pharmacy business, Charles and his highschool friend Gerald E. Ludwig, Sr. started Ludwig-Walpole Company, Inc. For many years, Francis Walpole's pharmacy was on the ground floor and Ludwig-Walpole was on the second floor of the Walpole building on Main Street in downtown Sarasota. The firm later moved to the Wilson building, next to the old post office, while their Orange Avenue offices were being built.

Ludwig-Walpole thrived on the trust of the community, insuring many of the town's residents. Famous clientele included John Ringling and his circus, as well as individual circus performers such as animal trainer Gunther Williams, Franz Furtner (also known as Unus, the famed performer who balanced on one finger), the Nerveless Nocks, and Max Weldy, the costume designer for Ringling Circus.

Between the 1940s and the 1970s, Gerald Ludwig, Sr. served on three terms as city commissioner, as vice mayor, and as mayor of Sarasota. Three generations of the Ludwig family have served the Sarasota community through the Ludwig-Walpole Agency, with Gerald E. Ludwig, Jr. currently as President of the firm. Together with sons Gerald E. Ludwig, III and Robert S. Ludwig, they continue pursuing the founders' principles of integrity, service, and customer satisfaction.

After 54 years at its previous location at 300 S. Orange Avenue, the agency continues to maintain a strong downtown Sarasota presence at its new building at 2350 Fruitville Road. Completed in 2010, this building has been constructed with the latest hurricane sustainability technology, including a 100,000 watt generator to maintain power during outages.

The Ludwig-Walpole name is synonymous with top-rated insurance services in the Sarasota area, as well as a supporter of education and not-for-profit organizations. The name has also been displayed on countless uniforms of young athletes whose league teams have been generously sponsored by the agency. As a former recipient of the Mayor's citation to service and a longtime member of the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, the Ludwig-Walpole Company remains a longtime business partner, neighbor, and friend to the Sarasota community.