About Us
Our Office
Our location is simple to find. We are in Nogales, Arizona, located just east of I-19 on Mariposa Road in the Loma Linda Shopping Center, right next to the Safeway Grocery Store.
Our History
Just after the turn of the century Fred W. Hannah moved to Nogales, Arizona, from the Phoenix area. Together with Elbert K. Cumming the two went into business on the border selling insurance and real estate. Fred and Elbert were brothers-in-law with Elbert being married to Fred's sister.
Family records show that the year they entered business together was 1907. Our local historical society has produced advertisements from the local paper in 1914 promoting their business. In 1937 Don Smith Sr. married Doris Belle Hannah, the daughter of Fred and Ethyl Hannah. That year Don and Doris joined in the business with Fred selling insurance on the border. The agency has always been located in Nogales, Arizona and have become the experts in Mexico insurance.
Our History: 1st Generation
Fred W. Hannah moved to Nogales with his family when he was 10 years old. His father was hired as a U. S. Customs Inspector. In 1907, Fred entered the insurance business at the Elbert K. Cumming Agency. Before Arizona statehood in 1912, Fred married his sweetheart, Ethyl Franz, who was a young school teacher in Nogales. He obtained a homestead next to his sister and her husband, Elbert K. Cumming, and both families lived side-by-side on cattle ranches outside the quiet, little town on the Mexico border. The two highly respected businessmen worked together in Nogales for many years. Later, Fred Hannah formed his own agency and continued to do business in Nogales for several decades.
Our History: 2nd Generation
Fred W. Hannah, the founder of the family insurance business, and his lovely wife, Ethyl, raised two beautiful daughters in Nogales, Arizona. After attending the University of Arizona, Doris Belle Hannah, the youngest, met and married Donald E. Smith, Sr., a senior who was a journalist for a Tucson newspaper working in Nogales. After they were married, Fred invited his new son-in-law, Don, to become a part of the family business. World War ll was escalating, so Don proudly served his country. After returning from duty, Doris and Don joined together and made a dynamic duo in the business, working for more than 50 years. The couple owned and managed a thriving travel agency (Don Smith Travel Service) along with an independent insurance company that included all forms of insurance in the U.S. Don was responsible for starting the Mexico Auto Insurance division. Don and Doris were known in Nogales for their leadership and integrity. They were actively involved in numerous community nonprofit organizations, but Rotary was their favorite. Don and Doris loved traveling throughout Mexico and were famous for the mile by mile Mexico Photo Log they authored and published. They not only traveled extensively in Mexico, but they also traveled around the world and became expert travel agents. Don was affectionately known as "Mr. Mexico." He genuinely loved Nogales and, in his spare time, spent numerous hours reading about the history of Mexico. He built a life-long business relationship and friendship with owners and representatives of Seguros Tepeyac (currently Seguros ANA), a large insurance company in Mexico City. To this day, Don Smith Mexico Auto insurance still continues to do business with the same families. This business connection spans over 77 years.
Our History: 3rd Generation
Don and Doris Smith raised their two children, Susan Smith and Don Smith, Jr. in the small town of Nogales, Arizona, on the Mexico border where the family already had established two generations of deep roots. After college, Don Jr. met and married his Kansas bride, Barbara, who was attending the University of Arizona. They later moved to Rio Rico, Arizona. Don and Barbara owned and managed a printing business for many years, and then Don joined his mother and father in the family insurance/travel business. He offered his parents boundless energy, ideas, and enthusiasm, and they were able to slow down a little and travel more. Through the years, Don, Sr., and Don Jr. both shared a fondness for Rotary, and Don Jr. continues to be dedicated and actively involved in his local club. Don Jr. has been the captain of the ship now for more than 30 years. His wife, Barbara, joined Don in the family business "officially" after retiring from a long teaching career. Through the years, Don, Barbara, and their two sons have traveled to many popular destinations in Mexico and along the Baja. They have visited many beach resorts and towed their boat across the ferry on the Sea of Cortez, down to Cabo San Lucas, and all the way from Cabo to Tijuana. Don's favorite sport is deep sea fishing anywhere in Mexico, but his favorite spot is on the East Cape of the Baja, located near Cabo. They both enjoy visiting Kino Bay and San Carlos regularly. Barbara learned how to slalom water ski on Lake Oviachic outside of Cuidad Obregon. For four generations, the Hannah/Smith Families have enjoyed developing friendships, vacationing, and driving many, many miles on adventures throughout their
neighboring country to the south, Mexico.
Our History
Just after the turn of the century, Fred W. Hannah moved to Nogales, Arizona, from the Phoenix area. Together with Elbert K. Cumming, the two went into business on the border selling insurance and real estate. Fred and Elbert were brothers-in-law, with Elbert being married to Fred's sister.
Family records show that the year they entered business together was 1907. Our local historical society has produced advertisements from the local paper in 1914 promoting their business. In 1937, Don Smith Sr. married Doris Belle Hannah, the daughter of Fred and Ethyl Hannah. It was also that year that Don and Doris joined in the business with Fred selling insurance on the border. The agency has always been located in Nogales, Arizona and have become the experts in Mexico insurance.
In 1986, the third generation team was established.
In 1986, the family team was established. Don and Doris have since passed away. In 1944 Don and Doris began selling Mexico insurance for Seguros Tepeyac, a Mexico-based company owned by the Llamosas family of Mexico City. Don Sr. knew an Arizona State Senator. He helped work out the details to get the Mexican company approved to sell insurance in Arizona, making them "first on the Arizona border." In 1995, Seguros Tepeyac partnered with Mapfre, a world-renowned insurance company based in Spain. In 1998, Mapfre bought Seguros Tepeyac outright. That year, Don Jr. chose to continue to do business with the Llamosas family and sell for Seguros ANA, a company that the Mexico-based family formed in 1995.
Don & Barbara enjoying one of their favorite beaches in Mexico
Our History: Today
Today, the team of Don, Barbara, and their fantastic insurance agent, Veronica Barnett, are happy to provide you with prompt, friendly, professional insurance service.
Don Smith Mexico Auto Insurance is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please stop by or give us a call any time. It would be our pleasure to serve you regarding your Mexico travel needs.
Don & Barabara along with agent Veronica Barnett
Don Smith, Jr.
In 1982 Don Smith, Jr. received his insurance licenses (Life, Accident, Health, Property, and Causality) in Arizona and began to do business with his parents, Don and Doris Smith.
