Long-time insurance agent retires after 40 years
Noel went to work with State Farm on Feb. 1, 1972.
BY LORETTA GILLESPIE / SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
As State Farm Insurance Agent Bob Noel reflects on his 40 years of serving the citizens of North Alabama, he has mixed emotions about his upcoming retirement.
One the one hand he is excited about getting to spend time with his two granddaughters, Julia and Jordan, fishing, working in his garden and taking it easy.
But he says he will miss the opportunity to interact with people.
“The best thing about my job has always been making friends and being able to provide a service to my policy holders,” said Noel.
He arrived in Huntsville in late 1971, after graduating from the University of Alabama.
Noel went to work with State Farm on Feb. 1, 1972.
The Noel’s moved to Madison in 1978, when it was still a small town.
“We moved here at just the right time,” he said. “This area has really grown, and it’s been good to me.”
He and Diane, his wife of 42 years, have two children. Their son is Huntsville dentist, Dr. Jake Noel, whose wife is Huntsville financial analyst, Kayla Noel.
Daughter, Ret. Major Leigh Mariotti, and her husband, Major Francesco Mariotti, along with their daughters will soon be returning to the states from Italy, where Leigh has been stationed. Leigh is a retired U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter pilot.
The Noel’s have made the trip to visit them in Italy twice, but Noel freely admits that he is looking forward to having them closer to home.
He is leaving his office on April 1, and can be found in his garden or on Lake Guntersville thereafter.
“I’ve always enjoyed working in my flower garden and being outside,” he said. “I’ve been super-lucky to have done the type of work I have done. I have always told my clients that they are buying a promise.”
“The most rewarding part of my job is to be able to write people a check when they have a problem. It’s nice to be in a position to help people so that they won’t have to change their lifestyle,” he said.
Of course, there have been hard times associated with his line of work.
“The hardest thing about my job is having to sit down with parents who have lost a child. It’s just heartbreaking,” said Noel.
Over his career, Noel has been among the top 50 agents in the nation, among a group of 12,000.
He now has four agents to take over for him.
“My office manager, Cary Boyd, has been working with me for 21 years, and she will continue to be here for all our clients,” he said. “I appreciate the loyal folks with whom I’ve done business all these years.”
