For Wil Keen Hyland, Vicksburg has been a part of his life as long as he can remember. Summer visits with his grandparents, Dee and John Leigh Hyland III, brought cherished memories and propelled him to return to Vicksburg as an adult.
The Hyland family legacy in Warren County dates back to the 1780s.
“I’m eighth generation,” Wil said of his heritage.
He refers with pride to a photo of his grandfather, John Leigh Hyland III, who was a Farm Bureau agent and manager for 44 years. In the photo, he is standing in front of his office, formerly on Grove Street.
“His office had a fireplace in it. He used to come in and light the propane heaters, the house had no central heat or air,” Wil explained.
He and fellow Farm Bureau agent Deloris Evans remember the tradition of teens getting their driver’s licenses and crossing the street to Hyland’s office to be added to their family’s insurance policy. The office was located directly across from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Now, the office is housed in a modern building on Mission 66.
Wil follows in the footsteps of not only his grandfather, but his aunt Jan Hyland Daigre, a Farm Bureau agent for many years. He is the third generation to work for Farm Bureau in Warren County. However, Wil didn’t come to the insurance industry right away. After graduating from high school, he spent six years in the U.S. Army. He joined Farm Bureau in Clinton, Miss. in 2017.
“We are an insurance agency called Warren County Farm Bureau Insurance,” he said. “We sell general auto, home insurance, life insurance and we do farm and business insurance. What Farm Bureau tries to be is a one-stop-shop. Each county has one Farm Bureau office and multiple agents within the county, but one of those agents is the agency manager as well. That’s what I’m doing, I took over June 1.”
When the opportunity for an agency position in Vicksburg arose, Wil was eager to take it on.
“Once the opening (in Vicksburg) came up, I was over the next day interviewing. I wanted to raise a family here.”
Wil and wife, Liz, welcomed baby James two months ago.
After two years as an agent in Warren County, Wil said he was honored to be promoted to agency manager.
He is quick to point out he couldn’t do it without Evans. Like Wil, she makes her home in Vicksburg and is raising her family in the River City. They both work in the office on Mission 66, but with his promotion, Wil takes on added managerial responsibilities.
“Farm Bureau is based out of Mississippi,” Evans said. The company is especially strong in the southeastern portion of the United States, and the home office is located in Jackson.
Both Wil and Evans stress the importance of community.
“I love helping people,” Wil said.
They even give policyholders their personal cell phone numbers, so they may be reached at any time, he said.
“I think the thing that makes us different is, if there is something that needs to be addressed, (policyholders) can get us,” Wil said. “We’re local. You’ll see us at the ball field, at church, at the grocery store. When someone has insurance with us, they’re part of a family. I think that’s what sets us apart.”
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