Fort Worth's Higginbotham Teams Up with Tidwell & Hilburn Insurance of Macon, Georgia

Georgia Firm Consults Industry Peers, Chooses Texas Partner to Ensure Continuity and Client Support

FORT WORTH, Texas, April 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Higginbotham, identified through Business Insurance reporting as the largest independent insurance, financial, and HR services firm headquartered in Texas, has teamed up with Tidwell & Hilburn Insurance of Macon, Georgia to gain a valuable partner in the key Southeastern region.

Higginbotham Chairman and CEO Rusty Reid looks to the future with a platform of strategic growth in such regions. At the heart of that vision is Georgia, a long-standing anchor in Higginbotham's growth plan. With this relationship, Tidwell & Hilburn of Macon, GA, becomes the 11th Higginbotham office in the state.

Beyond geography, Tidwell & Hilburn's commitment to service, team support, and community engagement makes this relationship a clear and natural fit for both firms.

"In Central Georgia, Tidwell & Hilburn isn't just a name — it's a trusted part of the community, built on 90 years of strong relationships," said Reid. "They take care of their people, clients, and neighbors, and that's exactly the kind of partner we look for. We're proud to welcome them to the Higginbotham family."

For Tidwell & Hilburn President Coleman "Cole" Tidwell, Jr. and Vice President Rusty Hilburn, the relationship with Higginbotham offers a strong succession plan for their valued employees and essential resources for their clients.

"We started exploring ways to perpetuate the agency," said Tidwell. "We have two younger producers, Will Argo and Adam English, who have been with us for over a dozen years taking good care of our customers. We wanted to bring them in as minority owners, but that process was going to be challenging. As we studied various options it became clear that partnering with an established firm that already had an employee equity process in place would provide the structure that we needed."

"We didn't want to partner with just any agency, though," Hilburn added. "So, at the same time, we're talking to colleagues in Georgia, some of whom have already joined Higginbotham — like our good friend Bo Hart, who's Managing Director at Higginbotham Macon [formerly known as Doherty, Duggan, Hart & Tiernan]. We learned from them that the way Higginbotham operates and how they think about and treat their customers and employees fits our mold better than anyone else."

Along with equity benefits for employees, the partnership will enhance support for the Georgia firm's clients. Tidwell and Hilburn highlighted Higginbotham's Day Two Services®, a program that offers risk management services such as improved loss control and contract review. They also emphasized the value of Higginbotham's dedicated claims department, staffed with professional adjusters to better serve clients. Finally, the partners look forward to working synergistically with the Higginbotham Macon office, which only provides commercial line service. Tidwell & Hilburn Insurance supports both commercial and personal insurance clients.

Tidwell concluded by addressing his current clients directly: "My main message is that we're not going anywhere. The Tidwell name has been part of this agency since 1947, so joining forces with a new firm was not something we took lightly. I went through a similar process in 2006 when we added Rusty Hilburn's name to the door. That was the best business decision I've ever made — and now we're both excited to welcome Higginbotham into an even greater partnership."

ABOUT TIDWELL & HILBURN INSURANCE

With over 90 years in business, Tidwell & Hilburn Insurance is one of the oldest and most trusted agencies in Middle Georgia. With roots in Macon that go back to 1920, Tidwell & Hilburn Insurance prides itself on long-term relationships developed with business and personal insurance customers and with top-tier carriers. The agency continuously strives to remain a leading choice among independent agencies in Georgia.

Visit th-ins.com for more information.

ABOUT HIGGINBOTHAM 

Higginbotham is a single source solution for insurance, financial and HR/employee benefits services. The employee-owned firm was established in 1948 and today holds a Business Insurance ranking as the nation's 20th largest independent insurance brokerage by revenue. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Higginbotham serves businesses and individuals through locations across the nation. The firm specializes in tailoring programs to meet each client's unique needs, and stands by those programs with their Day Two Services®, which provide proactive customer support through the life of each policy.

Higginbotham is a values-driven firm that strives to be family to employees, accountable to clients, teammates to carriers, and generous to communities.

Visit higginbotham.com for more information.

SOURCE Higginbotham