Higginbotham Adds 50-Year-Old Life Insurance Agency The Dike Company, Inc. to Fort Worth Operations

Legacy in local business and TCU football A.R. "Buddy" Dike and group joins Higginbotham

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Aug 16, 2017, 17:08 ET

FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Higginbotham announced today that A.R. "Buddy" Dike and his colleagues at The Dike Company, Inc. have joined the insurance firm at its home office in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Dike opened The Dike Company in 1966, and Tim Engelbert joined him in 1988. As executive vice presidents at Higginbotham, life insurance brokers Dike, Engelbert and two account managers will supplement Higginbotham's five existing life and estate planning professionals.

A.R. "Buddy" Dike of life insurance agency The Dike Company joins Higginbotham in Fort Worth, Texas

Tim Engelbert of life insurance agency The Dike Company joins Higginbotham in Fort Worth, Texas

Dike has been a fixture in the Fort Worth business, insurance and philanthropic communities since receiving acclaim as Texas Christian University football captain in 1957 the season following his team's win against Syracuse University at the Cotton Bowl. He was inducted to the TCU Lettermen's Hall of Fame and named TCU Valuable Alumnus in 1978.

Widely recognized as "Buddy," he is former president of the Fort Worth Association of Life Underwriters, Fort Worth Society of Financial Service Professionals and Fort Worth Business and Estate Council. He is current board member of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, TCU Board of Trustees and Davey O'Brien Foundation.

Engelbert is likewise rooted in Fort Worth's business scene. He trained at the Fort Worth office of Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company for three years before The Dike Company. He is former board member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, Knights of Columbus and Serra Club of Fort Worth. He serves on committees at The Fort Worth Club and as founding board member of nonprofit IOG.

Higginbotham Managing Director of Financial Services Michael Parks said, "We didn't just discover Buddy. We've known him as a distinguished Fort Worth business leader and TCU supporter for a long time—qualities Higginbotham is known for as well. We're honored that an insurance professional of his caliber chose Higginbotham to entrust his clients."

The Dike Company moved from the office it occupied since 2006 at 3200 W. 4^th Street to Higginbotham at 500 W. 13^th Street. It will operate under the Higginbotham name.

About The Dike Company, Inc.
In 1966, A.R. "Buddy" Dike organized The Dike Company, Inc., an independent agency providing estate planning and insurance services. Following a reorganization and a merger, he resumed business as The Dike Company in 1999. The agency is a founding member of National Financial Partners, a national organization composed of 150 independent life insurance agencies united to strengthen their marketing impact with insurance carriers. Visit www.texfp.com for more information.

About Higginbotham
Higginbotham is a single source for insurance and financial services that brokers business insurance, employee benefits, retirement plans, executive benefits, life insurance and home/auto insurance from more than 250 regional and national carriers. It supplements coverage with in-house risk management and benefit plan administration services. The firm was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, with 26 additional offices serving domestic and international customers. Higginbotham ranks by revenue as the nation's 27^th largest independent insurance brokerage firm, making it the largest Texas-based broker (Business Insurance, July 2017). Visit www.higginbotham.net for more information.

SOURCE Higginbotham