Winner of Great American Insurance Group’s Big Rig Giveaway "Pays It Forward”

A big-hearted trucker known as "Granny” is the winner of Great American Insurance Group’s 2009 Big Rig Giveaway. Dianne Smith of Massillon, Ohio was chosen at random during the recent Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) as the recipient of a Kenworth W900 from Great American’s Trucking Division. "Are you joking?” she asked when reached by phone after her name was drawn at the Louisville show. "Granny” was one of over 10,000 licensed commercial truck drivers who registered for the contest, now in its third year.

Dianne and her husband Ron knew immediately what they wanted to do with their own Freightliner, a rig they had just paid off. They will give it to another owner operator couple struggling to make ends meet. Their generosity doesn’t surprise those who know them well. The two truckers have made it a goal in their lives to "pay it forward.” Dianne and Ron are known to fellow truckers as "Snuffy and Granny,” costumed characters they created in 1992 as part of a musical and comedy team. They often take their show on the road as Special Olympics Ambassadors for the State of Ohio.

Collectively, Dianne and Ron have been driving for over 30 years. They have been married for 17 years and raised six daughters together. "He’s the love of my life,” says "Granny” of her "Snuffy.” The couple has 17 grandchildren, including two special-needs youngsters.

Great American’s Trucking Division specializes in insurance protection for the truck, trailer, and cargo, and provides occupational accident coverage for truckers like Dianne and Ron.

About Great American Insurance Group

Great American Insurance Group’s roots go back to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Company. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the operations of Great American Insurance Group are engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialty commercial products for businesses, and in the sale of traditional fixed, indexed and variable annuities and a variety of supplemental insurance products. Great American Insurance Company has received an "A” (Excellent) or higher rating from the A.M. Best Company for over 100 years (most recent rating evaluation effective on March 27, 2009). The members of the Great American Insurance Group are subsidiaries of American Financial Group, Inc. (AFG), also based in Cincinnati, Ohio. AFG’s common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol ("AFG”).