NU Online News Service, April 17, 8:36 a.m. EST

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America honored three individuals and a state agents association for their work on political issues of importance to independent producers.

Fletcher Willey of North Carolina is the 2010 recipient of the Sidney O. Smith award for outstanding service to his or her peers and the national association in the field of government affairs.

Larry Brustad of Minnesota is the recipient of the 2010 Barney Burns award which is named after former IIABA for his tireless work to educate agents about the importance of being politically active and contributing to InsurPac, the association's political action committee.

 The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Idaho received the 2010 Herndon award for its outstanding legislative achievements on behalf of IIABA and its members.

Finally, IIABA named Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, as the Gerald Solomon-IIABA Legislator of the Year.

Neugebauer serves on the House Committees on Agriculture, Financial Services, and Science and Technology. On the House Committee on Financial Services, he serves as chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.