Dade County FlArchives Biographies.....Durrance, Selser W. 1889 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Rayburn http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006128 November 6, 2015, 10:35 pm Source: Vol. II pg.147 The Lewis Publishing Co. 1923 Author: History of Florida, Past and Present SELSER W. DURRANCE is a manager of the Miami District for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. The post of district manager with what is probably the largest insurance organization in the world is a coveted honor among insurance men, and is a fine tribute to the thoroughgoing and energetic business qualifications of Mr. Durrance, one of the youngest managers in the service of the company. Mr. Durrance was born at Bartow, Florida, in 1889, son of J. W. and ANNIE WINGATE DURRANCE. His father was born in Polk County, Florida, and has been a life-long orange grower of prominence in the state. He is now living at Avon Park. Mrs. ANNIE DURRANCE was born in Georgia. SELSER W. DURRANCE acquired a public school education at Bartow, attended the South Florida Military Institute, and in August, 1913, entered the service of the Metropolitan and Life Insurance Company as a solicitor of industrial insurance at St. Augustine. His record of promotion with the company and the testimony of his associates confirm the impression that he is a born insurance man, and has exhibited remarkable ability as a producer in this line of business. For a time he was assistant manager at Jacksonville, and he was promoted to manager at Miami in December, 1916, and at once came to Miami to take charge of the Miami district. It was his record of production in the Jacksonville District that brought him this promotion. At the time he was the youngest on the entire staff of managers of the Metropolitan Company in the United States and Canada. This corporation has approximately 550 district managers in the two countries. Mr. Durrance had a force of five men under him at Miami when he began his duties as manager, and now has a staff of twenty-two. There were about 500 policies of the company in force in Miami and vicinity, while now there are about 11,000 policies. His district embraces South Florida from Fort Pierce to Key West, and this district has led the southern territory every year in the production of new business. In 1919 it led the entire country in production of new business on a per man basis. Through his office he supplied all the remarkable service that is distinctive of the Metropolitan Company. This company has all forms of life insurance, ordinary, accident and industrial insurance, and it stands almost alone among great insurance companies in the extent of its welfare work. This welfare work, including free nursing for the sick and the education by means of literature and personal advice, is carried on among industrial policyholders throughout the country. The local offices of the Metropolitan Company in Miami are on the second floor of the Central Arcade Building. Mr. Durrance is a member of the Life Underwriters Association of Miami, and also belongs to the Chamber of Commerce, Knights of Pythias, Masons and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He married Miss MAUD SEGUI, of St. Augustine, Florida. Their three children are JOSEPH S., MARGUERITE and ANNA RITA. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/dade/bios/durrance267bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/flfiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb