Ewing Carruthers, Jr., has affectionately been called "Old Reliable" as he has been an independent agent for Mass Mutual for more than 70 years and continues selling to this day. "I've been working since I was 12 years old," Carruthers was quoted as saying in a "Special to the Commercial Appeal." He went on to say that "I enjoy it. It's rewarding. And it pays well." Mr. Carruthers graduated from Southwestern College in 1939 and began what was to be his life's work - selling insurance; however, his work has always been more than earning an income. He looks at selling insurance as helping out a friend and indeed he has made many friends during his more than seven decades as an insurance agent.

Throughout his illustrious career, Mr. Carruthers has been involved in the industry he loves by serving nationally as president of the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (1981-1982); Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (1966-1967); and Million Dollar Round Table (1966-1967), where he is also a 55-Year Life Member. His many accomplishments have not gone unnoticed and he has received many awards throughout his life, including induction into the Tennessee Insurance Hall of Fame in 2004; selection as "Man of the Year" in 1955 by the Memphis Chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors; and induction into both the Memphis and the Tennessee Life Underwriters Halls of Fame. Mr. Carruthers is also a published author having written a book about his long career "A Way of Life."