Austin, TX – Effective May 2, Terry Frakes retired from Texas Mutual Insurance Company after more than 25 years of service to the company. Frakes was Texas Mutual’s third employee after it was created by the Texas Legislature in 1991 (then called the Texas Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fund). He was also the company’s first executive council member.
For the past 26 years, Frakes has served as Texas Mutual’s senior vice president of public affairs, where he represented the company during legislative sessions, served as the primary media contact and oversaw communication initiatives.
“We refer to Terry as a Texas Mutual pioneer since he’s been here from the beginning and helped us become the company we are today,” Rich Gergasko, president and chief executive officer of Texas Mutual, said. “We are grateful for his service and dedication to the workers’ comp industry, and specifically to Texas Mutual, over the years. Terry will always be a part of the Texas Mutual family, and we wish him the very best.”
Prior to joining Texas Mutual, Frakes worked as regional director of governmental affairs of a major national trade association, director of government affairs of at the Texas Department of Insurance and as special assistant to the House Insurance Committee. Frakes is a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
“The best takeaway from the last 26 years is seeing the company grow after being there before it was created,” Frakes said. “I watched the legislation pass and helped set it up from nothing—we had no office, no phones, no employees. And today, Texas Mutual is the largest workers’ comp writer in the state. What a true success it has been!”
The company commemorated Frakes’s retirement with a small celebration to recognize his many contributions to Texas Mutual and the workers’ compensation industry.
Mary Nichols, senior vice president and general counsel at Texas Mutual: “I have so much enjoyed the 23 years Terry and I have worked together. Through all the ups and downs of those years, he has been a steadfast collaborator and a loyal ally—because of his kindness and good humor, the relationship survived all weathers. That is his great talent as a friend and colleague, and I will surely miss him.”
Jeremiah Bentley, vice president of marketing and customer engagement at Texas Mutual: “Terry leaves behind a strong legacy at Texas Mutual. Many of the major reforms in the system over the last 20-plus years wouldn’t have happened without him. More than that, I appreciate everything he’s done for me during my time with Texas Mutual. I consider him a mentor, teacher and friend. Texas Mutual won’t be the same without him.”
More from Frakes: “There were three or four of us in the beginning, and we would meet for breakfast to try and put it all together. It was an immense task that turned around quickly. The bill to create the company was passed in August of 1991, and we wrote our first policy in January of 1992. There’s a lot to be proud of there.
I’ll miss the people the most, and all the friends I’ve made over the years; getting the chance to see them and work with them to create the Texas Mutual of today.”
Source: Texas Mutual