To anyone outside the industry, the annual convention of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of SC (IIABSC) might just be another dinner. But to those in the sector, they know how this one night a year lets this important group of professionals catch up, compare notes, and – as one local agent found out – honor their own.
Playing a key role in strengthening the state’s insurance industry, the IIABSC supports independent agents through education, training, and professional development, ensuring they can provide clients with informed, reliable guidance. It also advocates at the state and federal levels for policies that protect consumers and promote a fair, competitive insurance marketplace. By offering resources, compliance assistance, and a unified voice, IIABSC helps agents serve their communities with professionalism and integrity.
Once a year, during an annual convention they call “The Big I,” they pick one agent who exemplifies both the vital work they do and the spirit of service in which they do it to receive the Hayne P. Glover Jr. Agent of the Year award. Named for the only South Carolinian to serve as the national association president, the award has highlighted those agents who share in a spirit of service since it was first launched 29 years ago.
And when the 127th such convention named its winner at the Westin Resort & Spa on Hilton Head this year, the spotlight fell on the Lowcountry’s own Bill Fuge II.
Bill Fuge II was recently named SC Agent of the Year
“Something like this was never even on my radar. I’ve been involved in the Big I as long as I’ve been in insurance, but I haven’t been involved in that process in any way, shape, or form,” Fuge said. “It’s not why I do this at all, so that’s why this really took me by surprise.
One look at his resume should tell anyone that he shouldn’t have been so surprised. One of the biggest factors that the IIABSC considers for the Glover Award is service, and Fuge has shown time and time again during his 20 years in the industry how important that is to him. As one of the oldest and largest independent insurance agencies in the Lowcountry, Kinghorn Insurance Agency has long valued deep roots in the community.
Fuge took that notion and ran with it, serving as an active insurance advisor on the Hilton Head Area Home Builders Association board, where his insight and support benefit local businesses and homeowners. He has also lent his time and talents to boards of directors including First Tee – The Lowcountry and the Boys & Girls Club.
Within the industry, he’s served as an equally tireless advocate. He’s not only worked to build The Big I as a member of the Annual Convention planning committee, he has also supported InsurPac and served on the Coastal Property Task Force. It’s an involvement that, to hear Fuge tell it, is all just part of the job.
“When you get involved, you help other insurers through being an advocate. It’s part of our culture at Kinghorn. Jimmy Rowe was my mentor, and he won this award at one point as well. He is the one who hired me in 2003 and I give him tremendous credit for making me the insurance agent I am,” Fuge said. “And behind every good man is a great woman. No truer words describe my wife. Thank you for supporting me every day, you are my foundation and the greatest blessing in my life.”
When asked about an acceptance speech, Fuge simply laughed and said once again that he doesn’t do what he does for any award, simply stating “I love what I do.”
The partners and staff of Kinghorn Insurance Agency are extraordinarily proud to honor the Managing Partner, Bill Fuge, for receiving the prestigious 2025 award. As they said in a release following his win, “Bill truly embodies the values of dedication, service, and community connection that define excellence in our industry. His deep roots in the Lowcountry have shaped not only his professional path but also his unwavering commitment to the people and businesses he serves.”
