Often in silence, memories of Al Boenker come to mind. As I work through problems, I can hear his counsel. In different experiences, I remember what he enjoyed. As I manage tasks, I often ask, “What would Al do?” Al was a boss who treated me like a friend and a mentor who was often like a father.
It’s been a year since Al passed away, and I’ve been reflecting on the changes of the last twelve months and the things I miss now that he’s no longer with us on this side of eternity. Al was the founder of Al Boenker Insurance, Alinsco MGA, and the Alinsco Insurance Company. He was a long, tall Texan with a larger-than-life personality—always gracious and kind.
For nearly 30 years, I would call Al two to three times a day to provide updates on the business. Shortly after he passed on March 29, 2024, I found myself reaching for my phone to share an update, only to pause and come back to reality. Al was available any day of the week and at any hour of the day. He enjoyed engaging in the business at any time. For him, there was no work-life separation. Work was fun and a part of enjoying life. And why wouldn’t it be? Work provided opportunities, introduced you to new and exciting relationships, offered an outlet for creativity, and, through its hardships, built wisdom and resilience.
One year later, his wisdom still helps me in many ways. His voice reminds me that in business, relationships are what matter most—not relationships merely for the sake of building business opportunities, but for the chance to meet people, know them, and serve them, with the hope that friendship will develop. Never in 30 years did I see Al ever seek to use someone for gain. He was most concerned with doing everything possible to serve them and their needs, both business and personal.
Al treated every employee with kindness and, in every case, provided opportunities for growth. If you do not grow in our organization, it is simply because you are unwilling to take advantage of what is provided. No one was or is held back.
Clients, vendors, regulators, politicians, competitors, and partners were all treated with respect. The only way to earn his ire was to be an outright ***hole to others. He would terminate those relationships and individuals without a second thought. If you treated waitstaff poorly while at a restaurant, you were sure to be judged poorly by Al.
He was loved by his family, friends, employees, partners, and even strangers. His presence on TV for 30 years in the Dallas-Fort Worth area brought clients who were attracted to his personalized approach and Texas twang. What you saw on TV was exactly who he was.
Many of us have said there will never be another like Al, but we can learn a thing or two from his care of others and keep some of his lessons and actions alive and well.
My father passed away over seven years ago, and yet there are still moments when I reach for my phone to call him. Last summer, I was in New York, a city my father introduced me to and where we had built some memories. I wanted to share with him that I was headed to one of his favorites, Sardi’s, for a late-night drink and a bite. Reaching for the phone, once again, reality struck. While I know my dad, nor Al, can take the call, I do take a moment to reflect on them in these moments.
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