ATG® MOURNS THE LOSS OF ONE OF ITS OWN
 

Sam Erwin in 1977 during his tenure on the Board of Directors
 		 Samuel L. Erwin, Champaign, Illinois, died November 12, 2002; he was 67. Sam served as ATG's Executive Vice President from 1966 to 1970, followed by nine years of board of director service. In 1971, the same year he became an ATG member, he issued one of the year's largest policies ($960,000 for Germania Savings and Loan Association).

Sam guided ATG during an era when we were qualified to do business in less than one third of the counties in Illinois. We had just a few hundred members and battled lender resistance issues daily. Sam led ATG through significant growth in policy volume, membership, and lender relations.

A 1963 graduate from the University of Illinois College of Law, his career included three years in the U.S. Navy, serving as an attorney for the Amoco Oil Company and for Carson Pirie Scott, Chicago. He entered private practice in 1971 and eventually formed Erwin, Martinkus, Cole & Ansel, Champaign. The business-oriented firm grew to be actively involved in the formation and representation of business entities, including many in the technology field. Sam was highly regarded for his legal advice, guidance on planning and initial structuring of business ventures, and his network of key people to guide a new business. He was one of the first Central Illinois attorneys to prepare private offerings to raise equity funds for small businesses.

Sam served his community and his profession with great dedication and vision and will be missed by all who knew him. In his letter to shareholders in ATG's 1967 Annual Report, Sam reported good financial news, increased acceptance, and an important pledge:

As we enter this new year [1968], I want to assure each one of you that this organization will never get so large that it will not be able to devote considerable time and effort to your individual needs ....

We hope to remain true to Sam's vision.
 

© ATG atgc0301vol27

 

Print this page