Paul Leavy/The Valdosta Daily Times The insurance offices for Monty Long on Webster Street in Valdosta.

VALDOSTA — Cotton States Insurance gained an old insurance pro when veteran agent Monty Long turned down an offer to leave Valdosta with another firm and joined Cotton States.

Long opened his office under the name Long and Associates at 112 Webster St. on Jan. 3, next to the building where former Cotton States agent Lee Tatum kept shop.

Long is taking over Tatum’s Cotton States spot. Tatum and former Cotton States agent Bivins Robinson left Cotton States to form their own agency, Robinson-Tatum Insurance, last year.

Long says he couldn’t be happier to have returned to his lengthy insurance career after a short hiatus, especially since it enables him to stay in Valdosta.

“I thought, what a great way to go out but to work in the career I’ve known, one that can provide any insurance need the consumer might have, which is what we have here at Cotton States,” Long said. “It’s very rewarding being able to help people with what you do.”

He started his career with American General in June 1981. The Kennesaw, Ga. native was moved by American General to Valdosta in 1987. He worked for American General until the end of June 2003. He was a general manager for 17 of the 22 years he spent with American General.

In July 2003, he accepted a position as a “fast track” manager with Monumental Life, and worked for that firm until they made him an offer he had to refuse in February 2004. “Monumental Life wanted to move me to Louisiana or California, but I wanted to stay in Valdosta,” Long said.

Long has a daughter who is a freshman cheerleader at Valdosta High School. And he has been bitten by the high school football bug. He has Wildcat fever. He’s the media specialist for the Valdosta Wildcats Touchdown Club, serves on their board of directors, and is host of the popular local TV show, “Wildcat Tradition,” when it airs during football season. He keeps a Wildcats football helmet on a bookshelf in his office.

As for Wildcat fever, Long said: “It’s hard to get away from once it’s in your blood. And it’s in mine.”

So Long decided to leave the insurance business. At least, he tried to. He went to work for Cintas, a uniform company, as a sales representative, a position he held until January 2007. Then he was self-employed until Cotton States hired him Nov. 1, 2007.

“I knew the Cotton States manager, who is based in Savannah but covers all of South Georgia,” Long said. “I had my auto insurance with Cotton States, and they had always done a good job. So I knew it was a good company.”



Q: Do you have any college education?



A: Yes. I graduated in 1980 from West Georgia College with a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Theater. People keep telling me I should participate in local theater productions. I haven’t yet, but I probably should.



Q: Do you have any professional certifications and/or affiliations?



A: Yes. I am a certified LUTCF agent, which stands for Life Underwriters Training Counsel Fellow. It is a three-year course of study given by the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA). I received the certification in 1992. Also, I am a past president of NAIFA’s Griffin and Valdosta associations.



Q: Long and Associates implies more than one agent. Do you have anyone on board yet?



A: My wife Patti helps me part-time. Right now, I am the only associate, but I’m hoping to change that soon.



Q: What sort of insurance policies do you concentrate your business on?



A: Homeowners, auto and life.



Q: Do you offer other types of insurance?



A: Yes. I am able to go outside of Cotton States and offer commercial, liability and other types of coverage. That is one reason I chose to go this route with Cotton States, because I can pretty much offer what anyone could need, insurance wise. If you’re having trouble finding a policy for coverage in any area, please give me a call.



Monty Long, Cotton States Insurance

Address: 112 Webster Street

Owner: Monty Long of Long and Associates

Phone: 229-247-1400

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, appointments only on Saturday, closed Sunday

E-Mail: monty.long@cottonstates.com