This week we’re noting with reverence the passing of Rodell Mallow, 91, a longtime director and officer of Ixonia Mutual Insurance Company, predecessor of Forward Mutual Insurance Company. Rodell served as a director for 30 years, from 1969-1999. He died January 12, 2021.

As director, Rodell provided leadership for his fellow directors and management. His knowledge, experience, integrity, honesty and good business sense were influential and made a difference. He often shared the story that he never intended to join the Ixonia Mutual Board of Directors. It so happened in 1969, he had nothing to do on the day of the mutual’s annual meeting and decided to attend, something he had never done before. On a whim and without consulting Rodell, a policyholder placed Rodell’s name in nomination against longtime director and then-mutual secretary John Degner. Rodell often laughed that he didn’t realize he could decline the nomination. Instead, Secretary Degner removed his own name from the nomination, citing he had served as a director for 46 years and it was time to step down. No other policyholder was nominated and Rodell was elected to his first term as a director.