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If you drive in Lanett, you have seen the Holley name. A red sign hangs over the small office off Broad Street, marking the offices of Donny Holley. There has been a Holley selling State Farm Insurance in Chambers County since 1952 when his father started the business. And there are no signs of that changing. 

On Thursday, agents, customers, friends, and family gathered at the Lanett office to celebrate Holley’s anniversary. Salesman of the Year plaques, record trophies and pictures of the father and son duo decorated the offices. To Holley, the day exemplified why he does the job.

Holley said the best part of his job is, “Meeting the people of Chambers County…taking care of their needs.” 

The salesman is not letting the 50-year milestone slow him down. 

“I have no plans to retire, my health is good, I love what I am doing and I have the best help in the world, I really do,” Holley said. “The least anyone has been with me is 13 years and I’ve got one that has been with me for over 40 years.”

Holley is unsure if the business will stay in the family. One of his grandchildren will be working with State Farm to potentially follow in his grandfather’s footsteps. However, The agent is not worried about the future. He is confident his staff will continue their work in Chambers if he were to retire in the future. 

Holley credits his faith for much of his success, saying he has been guided and “walked into more business than a lot of people.”

A lot has changed in the insurance business over the half-century. 

“Like anything else, the technology [has changed]. Dealing with people never changes,” he said. “You still deal with people on a personal basis, but the way you communicate with them has changed.

Holley is a salesman through and through, as he welcomed those there to celebrate him entering the Broad Ave office. He was clear that the job is about the people. 

Holley said the biggest lesson he has learned over 50 years is, “To listen, to not assume you know what somebody needs, but listen and let them tell you what they need.”