Brown to chair windstorm insurance coalition

GALVESTON — Attorney Anthony “Tony” Brown has been elected to succeed Lee Otis “Otie” Zapp as chair of the Coastal Windstorm Insurance Coalition and its parent organization, the Galveston Windstorm Action Committee Inc.

Zapp, who has chaired the group for 25 years, will continue as vice chair of the nonprofit organization established in 1986 to ensure Galveston property owners have access to adequate and affordable windstorm insurance.

“Tony Brown brings much to the table as the new chair,” Zapp said. “He is an experienced and successful advocate for his clients in the practice of law and is generous with his time and talent in support of righteousness. Tony is also knowledgeable and experienced in the ways of the Texas Legislature and with the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association in particular.”

Other members of the organization include officers William C. “Buzz” Elton, secretary; Don Mafrige, treasurer; and Henry Freudenburg, Victor Pierson, Jerry Mohn and Terrilyn Tarlton.

The name Coastal Windstorm Insurance Coalition was adopted this year to communicate actions on behalf of property insurance policyholders along the Texas Coast.

Last June, the coalition worked with the Galveston and Corpus Christi chambers of commerce to demonstrate to the Texas Legislature serious concerns in need of resolution before the next hurricane to avoid serious harm to Coastal residents and the Coastal Economy. That effort continues and is expected to increase substantially after the first of the year.