After forming W.S. Pharr & Company in 1988, through the Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association (MALTA) president Spence Rosenfeld, Will brought the concept of an industry-dedicated insurance program to the MALTA board. Will recognized a service void within the landscape industry, and proposed a program that would benefit landscape and grower businesses, while at the same time increasing membership and revenue for the association. Will and the MALTA board had the vision and the financial acumen to recognize that this would be mutually beneficial to MALTA and W.S. Pharr & Company. Will had a real affinity for this industry, and his involvement helped raise the bar within it to enhance professionalism.

Throughout the years that W.S. Pharr & Company administered the insurance program, Will always presented himself with an exceedingly high degree of professionalism. Will attended countless MALTA and UAC industry events through the years, and always presented immaculately attired, a “snappy dresser” – but he could speak and relate to the landscape contractor, nurseryman or sod farmer in the field, greenhouse, farm, or nursery.

Will was a man of high integrity. If there was a problem or something went sideways with a client or within the insurance program, Will was not one to avoid it or run for the exits. If support was needed during a challenging time, he engaged to solve the problem, bringing necessary information as soon as he could, and he stood steadfast through whatever the difficulty was. Will protected his clients, found creative solutions, and mitigated risk for his clients and our association’s program. This is one reason that the program still exists today.

In 2011, the Georgia Urban Ag Council was formed (the merger of MALTA, Georgia Turfgrass Association and the Georgia Sod Producers Association), and the MALTA program become the Georgia Urban Ag Council insurance program. Will sold W.S. Pharr & Company in 2012, and the UAC program continued with a new insurance agency, under Will’s direction. In 2014, he negotiated with Snellings Walters Insurance Agency successfully, and the UAC program found a new home at an agency that he felt was worthy of the outstanding program he and the MALTA board created. This was particularly important to Will; he felt that Snellings Walters had the right values, appreciated, and would continue to grow the successful program and provide the services that lined up with his expectations for the program that had been in operation for 25 years.

Will Pharr loved our industry and the people in it, and he stuck with us in good times and bad. We offer our deepest condolences to Will's wife, Diane, and family. We are blessed to have known him and thank God that we had the pleasure of his long friendship.