Home America250-Enduring Success America250-Enduring Success: Shove Insurance Inc.

America250-Enduring Success: Shove Insurance Inc.

Updated on June 4 at 10:07 a.m.

By

Christopher Allen

-

06/01/2026

William Hunt Jr., Owner of Shove Insurance — WILLIAM HUNT JR., PRESIDENT of Shove Insurance Inc. PBN PHOTO/TRACY JENKINS

(Editor’s note: This is the 11th installment in a weekly series featuring Rhode Island’s oldest companies as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The other stories from this series can be found here.) PROVIDENCE – Founded in 1859 by Judge Isaac Shove, Shove Insurance Inc. is one of Rhode Island’s oldest

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(Editor’s note: This is the 11th installment in a weekly series featuring Rhode Island’s oldest companies as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The other stories from this series can be found here.) PROVIDENCE – Founded in 1859 by Judge Isaac Shove, Shove Insurance Inc. is one of Rhode Island’s oldest businesses, rooted in a rich history that has endured for generations. The 1904 edition of the Pawtucket Gazette and Chronicle featured an announcement of Isaac Shove’s death on its front page, noting that the agency was established “two years before Pawtucket, Massachusetts, was traded to Rhode Island.” Operating from a modest office on Main Street, George Parker Sr. took the reins from 1910 to 1937, followed by his son, George Parker Jr., who led the firm from 1937 until 1980. The stewardship continued with William Hunt Sr., father of the current owner, who ran the agency until his retirement in 2021. Today, his son, William Hunt Jr., is at the helm, ensuring that the firm's legacy remains a cornerstone of the local insurance industry, specializing in property and casualty insurance for small businesses throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Known as "Billy" Hunt Jr., a graduate from the University of Rhode Island, stepped into the role of president in 2022, and plans to continue the long-standing traditions that have defined Shove Insurance for more than a century-and-a-half. Hunt Jr. is also active in the community. In 2025 he was appointed to the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Hunt Jr. has realized the importance of adapting to modern industry demands. When the company was founded, insurance for homeowners was limited to the peril of fire, dwellings, household furnishings, barns and even livestock. Even the comprehensive liability coverages that the average homeowner requires today were not introduced until the more than 50 years later. One of the first to offer auto policies in Rhode Island, today the firm offers a diverse range of insurance products and financial services. “Shove Insurance was founded before the creation of the automobile,” said Hunt Jr. “Insurance was a brand new concept back then.” A one-man operation and independent agency, to remain competitive against larger corporate firms that have increasingly dominated the market, Hunt Jr. is now exploring "alternative risk" supplemental policies tailored more specifically to the needs of local clients. This includes diving deep into analytics and the ways in which insurance acts as a "social technology." “I’ve had to get creative,” he said. However, the cornerstone of Shove Insurance's approach remains the same: maintaining strong relationships with customers with a blend of tradition and modernity. Today, Hunt Jr.’s office is adorned with artifacts speaking to its history, including a picture of Isaac Shove in his original office. “I have a ton of old documents and interesting stuff,” he said. Times have certainly changed in both the industry and society. Indeed, a telling example can be found in the biography of the firm's founder. “Shove was a judge but didn’t have a law degree. He was just a very prominent person who closely understood the law,” said Hunt Jr.. “It was a time when experience mattered more than credentials. Which is kind of the opposite today." (UPDATES: Corrects William Hunt Sr. retired in 2021) Christopher Allen is a PBN staff writer. You may contact him at Allen@PBN.com.