About Us

Brown’s business is customer service 
We have always and will continue to strive to put the customer first.

Brown offers choice
Being an independent agency allows us to work with many different companies and find the right product specific for every individual, business, or group of any size.

Brown Insurance is a Keystone Insurers Group agency partner 
Keystone’s partners hold themselves to the highest ethical, financial, and underwriting standards. Brown remains fiercely independent but has the resources of the fifth largest, privately-owned insurance agency in the United States behind us.

Brown wants to know you, your family and your business 
Since 1927 we have been serving area residents and know the businesses, schools, communities, and the traits that make each region of the New River Valley unique.

And we want you to know us
Brown employees are rooted in the New River Valley. We are a strong community partner. We are also stewards of our environment and continually look for ways to further lessen our carbon footprint.

At Brown, our greatest compliment is a referral from a satisfied customer
We work hard for you and you can trust we will be there when you need us.

In 1927, Leonard Brown establishes the first agency in downtown Blacksburg, VA

1927 - Brown Insurance was founded by Leonard L. Brown, a devout Hokie and Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets member.  Leonard formerly sold life insurance for The Equitable.

1940 - Lucille Brown, Leonard's wife,  began working for the agency.

1951 - Norma Hill joined the agency as a part-time secretary while still in high school.  When she finished schooling she became a full-time employee and has been with the agency over 60 years.

1958 - Cooper joined agency after graduating from VT in 1958. 

1964 - The initial company officers were established as: President, Leonard L Brown; Vice President, T. Cooper Via, Sr.; Secretary /Treasurer, Norma Hill.

John L. Brown (Leonard and Lucille's son) joined the agency after a tour of active duty with the US Army in Germany.

Radford Merger

Arthur Giesen and Leonard Brown close the deal.
1966 - Harriet Albert (Norma Hill's sister) joined the agency.

1970 - Brown Insurance purchased the Giesen Agency of Radford, Virginia.

1975 - Brown purchased the Price Agency and Don Linkous joined the agency as a sales person.

1979 - Tommy Via, Cooper’s son, joined the agency after graduating from Virginia Tech.

1980 - T. Cooper Via, Sr. became the second president of the agency.

1987 - Brown Insurance purchased Blacksburg Insurance (formerly the Alfred Perdue Agency).

Tommy Via

1979 - VT Pamplin Grad, Tommy Via, joins the agency and is the current president of the agency.
1995 - The agency moved from a former downtown location to 100 Hubbard Street (corner of Hubbard and N. Main Street).

1998 - John Brown becomes the third president of the agency.

2001 - The accounts of the Roger Bell Agency [Dublin VA] were purchased, bringing in State Capital Insurance Company.

2002 - Christy Brown, John Brown's daughter and Leonard Brown's granddaughter, joined the agency. The agency also started trading as Brown Insurance in this year but remains under the umbrella of Leonard L Brown Agency, Inc. 

2005 - Tommy's daughter and Cooper's granddaughter, Nancy Via joined the agency. Thomas C Via, Jr. “Tommy” becomes the fourth president and remains leading the company today while Harriet Albert becames treasurer.

2008 - Brian Allen, Senior Benefit Programs joins the Leonard L. Brown family, providing sales and service for long term care, life, and medicare supplements. In this same year, Brown Insurance became a member of the Keystone Insurers Group, an independent insurance agents aggregation group based in Pennsylvania.