As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 28, 1996

                           Registration Statement No. 33-________
=========================================================================

               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C.  20549
             ______________________________________
                                
                            FORM S-8
                     REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
             ______________________________________
                                
                        POE & BROWN, INC.
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                
            Florida                                    59-0864469
   (State or other jurisdiction of       (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
    incorporation or organization)

     220 South Ridgewood Avenue
       Daytona Beach, Florida                            32115
  (Address of Principal Executive Office)             (Zip Code)

                                POE & BROWN, INC.
                             STOCK PERFORMANCE PLAN
                            _________________________
                                
                                Laurel L. Grammig
                  Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
                                 Poe & Brown, Inc.
                        401 E. Jackson Street, Suite 1700
                              Tampa, Florida 33602
                    (Name and address of agent for service)
                                 (813)222-4100
        (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                                
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be
offered  on  a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415
under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.   X
                                                            ____
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE ___________________________________________________________________________ Proposed Proposed Title of Amount maximum maximum securities to be offering aggregate Amount of to be registered Registered price offering registration per unit* price* fee __________________________________________________________________________ Common stock, par value $.10 per 400,000 $25.25 $10,100,000 $3,483 share............. shares ___________________________________________________________________________ * Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. The fee is calculated upon the basis of the average between the high and low sales price for shares of common stock of the registrant as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market on October 22, 1996.
PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The following documents previously filed by the Company with the Commission are incorporated by reference: (1) The Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995; (2) The Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended Mach 31, 1996; (3) The Company's quarterly report on From 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996; (4) The Company's Proxy Statement, dated March 19, 1996, for the Company's 1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders; (5) The description of the Company's common stock contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4, File Number 33-58090, filed with the Commission on February 10, 1993, as amended. All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents. ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES Not applicable. ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL Not applicable. ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS The Company is a Florida corporation. Reference is made to Section 607.0850 of the Florida Business Corporation Act, which permits, and in some cases requires, indemnification of directors, officers, employees, and agents of the Company under certain circumstances and subject to certain limitations. Under Article VII of the Company's Bylaws, the Company is required to indemnify its officers and directors, and officers and directors of certain other corporations serving as such at the request of the Company, against all costs and liabilities incurred by such persons by reason of their having been an officer or director of the Company or such other corporation, provided that such indemnification shall not apply with respect to any matter as to which such officer or director shall be finally adjudged to have been individually guilty of gross negligence or willful malfeasance in the performance of his or her duty as a director or officer, and provided further that the indemnification shall, with respect to any settlement of any suit, proceeding, or claim, include reimbursement of any amounts paid and expenses reasonably incurred in settling any such suit, proceeding, or claim when, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, such settlement and reimbursement appeared to be for the best interests of the Company. The Company has entered into an indemnification agreement with certain members of its Board of Directors. The agreements create certain indemnification obligations of the Company in favor of such persons in connection with their service as directors and, as permitted by applicable law, clarify and expand the circumstances under which such persons will be indemnified. The Company has purchased insurance with respect to, among other things, liabilities that may arise under the statutory provisions referred to above. ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED Not applicable. ITEM 8. EXHIBITS 4 - Poe & Brown, Inc. Stock Performance Plan 5 - Opinion of the Company's Assistant General Counsel as to the legality of the securities being registered hereunder 23a - Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent certified public accountants 23b - Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent certified public accountants 24a - Powers of attorney for individual directors 24b - Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors and certified by the Secretary of the Company ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement: (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement. (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (3) To remove from registration by means of a post- effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions (see Item 6) or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Daytona Beach, State of Florida, on October 28, 1996. POE & BROWN, INC. By: * _______________________________ J. Hyatt Brown, President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated. Signature Title Date * _____________________ Chairman of the Board, President October 28, 1996 J. Hyatt Brown and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) * _____________________ Director October 28, 1996 Samuel P. Bell, III * ____________________ Director October 28, 1996 Bradley Currey, Jr. * ____________________ Director October 28, 1996 Bruce G. Geer ____________________ Director October 28, 1996 Jim W. Henderson * ___________________ Director October 28, 1996 Kenneth E. Hill * ___________________ Director October 28, 1996 Theodore J. Hoepner /s/ James A. Orchard _____________________ Vice President, Treasurer and October 28, 1996 James A. Orchard Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) *By: /s/ Laurel L. Grammig _____________________________________ Laurel L. Grammig Attorney-in-Fact EXHIBITS Exhibit 4 - Poe & Brown, Inc. Stock Performance Plan Exhibit 5 - Opinion of the Company's Assistant General Counsel as to the legality of the securities being registered hereunder Exhibit 23a - Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent certified public accountants Exhibit 23b - Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent certified public accountants Exhibit 24a - Powers of attorney for individual directors Exhibit 24b - Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors and certified by the Secretary of the Company


                           EXHIBIT 4

                       POE & BROWN, INC.
                   STOCK PERFORMANCE PLAN


     Poe & Brown, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of

the State of Florida, establishes this Stock Performance Plan for

the purposes of attracting and retaining Key Employees, providing

an  incentive for Key Employees to achieve long-range performance

goals,  and  enabling Key Employees to share  in  the  successful

performance  of  the  stock  of Poe & Brown,  Inc.,  as  measured

against pre-established performance goals.



                    ARTICLE I - DEFINITIONS

      1.01 Award Effective Date means, with respect to each share

of Performance Stock, the date on which the award of the share of

Performance  Stock to a Key Employee is effective.  An  award  of

Performance  Stock shall be effective (i) as of the date  set  by

the  Committee when the award is made or, (ii) if  the  award  is

made  subject  to one, or more than one, condition under  Section

6.02  of this Plan, as of the date the Committee in its sole  and

absolute  discretion determines that such condition or conditions

have been satisfied.

     1.02 Board means the Board of Directors of Poe & Brown, Inc.

      1.03  Change  in Control means (i) the acquisition  of  the

power  to  direct, or cause the direction of, the management  and

policies  of  the  Company by a person not previously  possessing

such  power, acting alone or in conjunction with others,  whether

through ownership of Stock, by contract or otherwise, or (ii) the

acquisition, directly or indirectly, of the power to vote  twenty

percent or more of the outstanding Stock by a person or persons.

For purposes of this Section 1.03, the term "person" means a natural

person, corporation,



partnership, joint venture,  trust,

government or instrumentality of a government.  Also for purposes

of   this  Section  1.03,  customary  agreements  with  or  among

underwriters  and selling group members with respect  to  a  bona

fide public offering of Stock shall be disregarded.

      1.04  Code  means  the Internal Revenue Code  of  1986,  as

amended.

     1.05 Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board

or, if the Compensation Committee at any time has less than three

members  or  has a member who fails to come within the definition

of  a  "disinterested person" within the meaning  of  Rule  16b-3

under  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended,  a

committee  that shall have at least three members, each  of  whom

shall  be  appointed by and shall serve at the  pleasure  of  the

Board  and  shall come within the definition of a  "disinterested

person"  within  the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under  the  Securities

Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

      1.06  Company  means  Poe  &  Brown,  Inc.,  a  corporation

organized under the laws of the State of Florida.

      1.07 Disability means a physical or mental condition  of  a

Key  Employee  resulting from bodily injury,  disease  or  mental

disorder  that  renders him or her incapable of engaging  in  any

occupation or employment for wage or profit.  Disability does not

include  any physical or mental condition resulting from the  Key

Employee's engagement in a felonious act, self-infliction  of  an

injury, or performance of military service.  Disability of a  Key

Employee shall be determined by a licensed physician selected  by

the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion.

      1.08  Key Employee means a full time, salaried employee  of

the  Company who, in the judgment of the Committee acting in  its

sole  and  absolute  discretion,  is  a  key  to  the  successful

operation of the Company.



     1.09 Performance Stock means Stock awarded to a Key Employee

under this Plan.

     1.10 Performance Stock Agreement means the written agreement

between  the  Company  and a Key Employee to  whom  an  award  of

Performance Stock is made under this Plan.

      1.11  Plan  means this Poe & Brown, Inc. Performance  Stock

Plan.

      1.12 Stock means the common stock, $0.10 par value, of  the

Company.

      1.13  Year of Vesting Service means, with respect  to  each

share  of  Performance Stock, a twelve consecutive  month  period

measured  from the grant date of the Performance Stock  and  each

successive  twelve  consecutive month period measured  from  each

anniversary  of  such  grant date for that share  of  Performance

Stock.



                    ARTICLE II - ELIGIBILITY

      Only  Key Employees shall be eligible to receive awards  of

Performance  Stock under this Plan.  The Committee, in  its  sole

and  absolute  discretion, shall determine the Key  Employees  to

whom  Performance  Stock  shall be  awarded.   A  member  of  the

Committee is not eligible to receive grants of Performance  Stock

during the period he or she serves on the Committee or during the

one-year period prior to the date he or she begins serving on the

Committee.



            ARTICLE III - STOCK AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS

      The  Company shall reserve 400,000 shares of Stock for  use

under  this Plan.  All such shares of Stock shall be reserved  to

the extent that the Company deems appropriate from authorized but

unissued shares of Stock and from shares of Stock that have  been

reacquired   by   the  Company.   Furthermore,  any



shares of Performance Stock that are forfeited under Section 6.03  of  this

Plan shall again become available for use under this Plan.



                  ARTICLE IV - EFFECTIVE DATE

      This  Plan shall be effective on the date it is adopted  by

the  Board,  subject to the approval of the shareholders  of  the

Company  within twelve months after the date of adoption of  this

Plan by the Board.  Any Performance Stock awarded under this Plan

before  the  date of such shareholder approval shall  be  awarded

expressly subject to such approval.



                   ARTICLE V - ADMINISTRATION

      This  Plan  shall  be administered by the  Committee.   The

Committee,  acting  in  its sole and absolute  discretion,  shall

exercise such powers and take such action as expressly called for

under this Plan.  Furthermore, the Committee shall have the power

to  interpret  this  Plan and to take such other  action  in  the

administration and operation of this Plan as the Committee  deems

equitable under the circumstances, which action shall be  binding

on  the  Company with respect to each affected Key  Employee  and

each other person directly or indirectly affected by such action.

Nothing  in  this  Article V shall affect or impair  the  Board's

power to take the actions reserved to it in this Plan.



             ARTICLE VI - PERFORMANCE STOCK AWARDS

      6.01  Committee Action.  The Committee shall have the right

to  award shares of Performance Stock to Key Employees under this

Plan.   Each award of Performance Stock shall be evidenced  by  a

Performance Stock Agreement, and each Performance Stock Agreement

shall  set  forth the conditions, if any, under which



the  award will  be  effective  and  the  conditions  under  which  the  Key

Employee's  interest in the Performance Stock shall become  fully

vested and nonforfeitable.

      6.02 Conditions for Awards.  The Committee may, in its sole

and  absolute discretion, make the award of Performance Stock  to

Key  Employees effective only upon the satisfaction  of  one,  or

more   than  one,  objective  employment,  performance  or  other

condition  which  the  Committee  deems  appropriate  under   the

circumstances for Key Employees in general or for a Key  Employee

in particular.  The related Performance Stock Agreement shall set

forth  each  such condition and the deadline for satisfying  each

such  condition.  If a Performance Stock award shall be effective

only  upon  the satisfaction of one, or more than one, condition,

the  shares  of Stock underlying such award shall be  unavailable

under Article III of this Plan as of the date on which such award

is  made.   If  an  award of Performance Stock  fails  to  become

effective under Section 6.01 of this Plan, the underlying  shares

of Stock subject to such award shall be treated under Article III

of  this Plan as forfeited and shall again become available under

Article III of this Plan as of the date of such failure to become

effective.

      6.03 Conditions for Nonforfeitability of Performance Stock.

Subject  to  the  provisions of Article IX of this  Plan,  a  Key

Employee's interest in the shares of Performance Stock awarded to

him  or her shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable upon the

satisfaction  of  any conditions for the grant specified  by  the

Committee  pursuant to Section 6.02 and upon the  Key  Employee's

completion  of fifteen Years of Vesting Service for the  Company.

Subject to the provisions of Article IX of this Plan, if the  Key

Employee's employment with the Company terminates before  his  or

her  completion  of  fifteen Years of  Vesting  Service  for  the

Company,  the  Key Employee's interest in the awarded  shares  of

Performance Stock shall be forfeited unless:



          (a)  the Key Employee has attained age sixty-four;

           (b)   the  Key Employee's employment with the  Company

     terminates as a result of his or her death or Disability; or

            (c)    the   Committee,  in  its  sole  and  absolute

     discretion, waives the conditions described in this  Section

     6.03.

If  an award of Performance Stock is made to a Key Employee after

the  Key Employee attains age sixty-four, but before his  or  her

employment  with  the  Company  terminates,  the  Key  Employee's

interest in the awarded shares of Performance Stock shall  become

fully vested and nonforfeitable on the Award Effective Date.

      6.04  Dividends and Voting Rights.  If a cash  dividend  is

declared  on  a  share  of  Performance  Stock  after  the  Award

Effective  Date,  but before the Key Employee's interest  in  the

Performance  Stock  is  forfeited or  becomes  fully  vested  and

nonforfeitable, the Company shall pay the cash dividend  directly

to  the Key Employee.  If a Stock dividend is declared on a share

of  Performance Stock after the Award Effective Date, but  before

the Key Employee's interest in the Performance Stock is forfeited

or  becomes  fully vested and nonforfeitable, the Stock  dividend

shall  be treated as part of the award of the related Performance

Stock,  and  the  Key Employee's interest in such Stock  dividend

shall  be forfeited or become nonforfeitable at the same time  as

the  Performance Stock with respect to which the  Stock  dividend

was paid is forfeited or becomes nonforfeitable.  The disposition

of  each  other form of dividend which is declared on a share  of

Performance Stock shall be made in accordance with such rules  as

the Committee shall adopt with respect to each such dividend.

      A  Key  Employee shall be allowed to exercise voting rights

with  respect  to  a share of Performance Stock after  the  Award

Effective Date, but before the Key



Employee's interest in the Performance  Stock  is  forfeited or  becomes 

fully  vested  and nonforfeitable.

     6.05 Satisfaction of Nonforfeitability Conditions; Provision

for Income and Excise Taxes.  A share of Stock shall cease to  be

Performance  Stock at such time as a Key Employee's  interest  in

such share of Stock becomes fully vested and nonforfeitable under

Section  6.03  or  Article IX of this Plan, and  the  certificate

representing such share of Stock shall be transferred to the  Key

Employee as soon as practicable thereafter.



             ARTICLE VII - SECURITIES REGISTRATION

      Each  Performance Stock Agreement shall provide that,  upon

the receipt of shares of Stock as a result of the satisfaction of

the  conditions  described  in Section  6.03  of  this  Plan  for

nonforfeitability of Performance Stock, the Key  Employee  shall,

if  so  requested by the Company, hold such shares of  Stock  for

investment and not with a view of resale or distribution  to  the

public and, if so requested by the Company, shall deliver to  the

Company   a   written  statement  signed  by  the  Key   Employee

satisfactory  to  the Company to that effect.   With  respect  to

Stock  issued pursuant to this Plan, the Company at  its  expense

shall  take  such action as it deems necessary or appropriate  to

register  the  original issuance of such Stock to a Key  Employee

under  the  Securities Act of 1933 or under any other  applicable

securities  laws or to qualify such Stock for an exemption  under

any  such  laws  prior to the issuance of such  Stock  to  a  Key

Employee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall  have

no  obligation  whatsoever to take any such action in  connection

with the transfer, resale or other disposition of such Stock by a

Key Employee.




                   ARTICLE VIII - ADJUSTMENT

      The  Board, in its sole and absolute discretion,  may,  but

shall  not be required to, adjust the number of shares  of  Stock

reserved under Article III of this Plan and shares of Performance

Stock  theretofore granted in an equitable manner to reflect  any

change  in the capitalization of the Company, including, but  not

limited to, such changes as Stock dividends or Stock splits.   If

any  adjustment under this Article VIII would create a fractional

share  of  Stock, such fractional share shall be disregarded  and

the number of shares of Stock reserved or granted under this Plan

shall  be the next lower number of shares of Stock, rounding  all

fractions  downward.  An adjustment made under this Article  VIII

by  the  Board  shall be conclusive and binding on  all  affected

persons  and,  further, shall not constitute an increase  in  the

number of shares reserved under Article III within the meaning of

Article X(a) of this Plan.



   ARTICLE IX - SALE OR MERGER OF COMPANY; CHANGE IN CONTROL

      9.01 Sale or Merger.  If the Company agrees to sell all  or

substantially  all of its assets for cash or property  or  for  a

combination  of  cash  and  property or  agrees  to  any  merger,

consolidation,   reorganization,  division  or  other   corporate

transaction in which Stock is converted into another security  or

into  the  right  to  receive securities  or  property  and  such

agreement does not provide for the assumption or substitution  of

Performance  Stock  granted  under  this  Plan,  all  shares   of

Performance Stock shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable.

      9.02  Change  in  Control.  In the event  of  a  Change  in

Control,  the Board thereafter shall have the right to take  such

action  with respect to any shares of Performance Stock that  are

forfeitable,  or  all such shares of Performance  Stock,  as  the

Board in its sole and absolute discretion deems appropriate under



the  circumstances  to protect the interests of  the  Company  in

maintaining  the  integrity  of  the  awards  under  this   Plan.

Furthermore,  the  Board shall have the right to  take  different

action  under  this Section 9.02 with respect  to  different  Key

Employees or different groups of Key Employees, as the  Board  in

its  sole  and  absolute discretion deems appropriate  under  the

circumstances.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article IX,

all  shares  of Performance Stock shall become fully  vested  and

nonforfeitable  in the event of (i) any tender or exchange  offer

for  Stock  accepted  by a majority of the  shareholders  of  the

Company;  or (ii) the death of J. Hyatt Brown and the  subsequent

sale   by   his  estate,  his  wife,  his  parents,  his   lineal

descendants,  any  trust  created  for  his  benefit  during  his

lifetime, or any combination of the foregoing, of the Stock owned

by J. Hyatt Brown prior to his death.



              ARTICLE X - AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION

      This Plan may be amended by the Board from time to time  to

the  extent  that  the Board in its sole and absolute  discretion

deems  necessary or appropriate.  Notwithstanding the  foregoing,

no  amendment of this Plan shall be made absent the  approval  of

the  shareholders of the Company if the effect of  the  amendment

is:

          (a)  to increase the number of shares of Stock reserved

     under Article III of this Plan;

           (b)   to  change the class of employees of the Company

     eligible  for  awards of Performance Stock or  to  otherwise

     materially  modify, within the meaning of Rule  16b-3  under

     the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended,  the

     requirements  as  to eligibility for participation  in  this

     Plan; or



           (c)   to  otherwise  materially increase,  within  the

     meaning  of  Rule  16b-3 of the Securities Exchange  Act  of

     1934,  as  amended, the benefits accruing to  Key  Employees

     under this Plan.

The  Board  in its sole and absolute discretion may  suspend  the

awarding of Performance Stock under this Plan at any time and may

terminate  this Plan at any time.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,

the Board shall not have the right to modify, amend or cancel any

share  of  Performance Stock granted before  such  suspension  or

termination unless the Key Employee to whom the Performance Stock

is awarded consents in writing to such modification, amendment or

cancellation,  or  there is a dissolution or liquidation  of  the

Company or a transaction described in Article VIII or IX of  this

Plan.

                   ARTICLE XI - TERM OF PLAN

      No Performance Stock shall be awarded under this Plan on or

after the earlier of:

           (a)   the tenth anniversary of the effective  date  of

     this  Plan, as determined under Article IV of this Plan,  in

     which event this Plan otherwise thereafter shall continue in

     effect  until all Performance Stock awarded under this  Plan

     has  been  forfeited or the conditions described in  Section

     6.03  of  this Plan for nonforfeitability of all Performance

     Stock   awarded   under  this  Plan  have  been   completely

     satisfied; or

           (b)  the date on which all of the Stock reserved under

     Article  III  of  this  Plan  has,  as  a  result   of   the

     satisfaction of the conditions described in Section 6.03  of

     this Plan for nonforfeitability of Performance Stock awarded

     under  this Plan, been issued or no longer is available  for

     use  under  this Plan, in which event this Plan  also  shall

     terminate on such date.



                  ARTICLE XII - MISCELLANEOUS

      12.01      Shareholder Rights.  Subject to Section 6.04  of

this Plan, a Key Employee's rights as a shareholder in the shares

of  Performance Stock awarded to him or her shall be set forth in

the related Performance Stock Agreement.

       12.02      No  Contract  of  Employment.   The  award   of

Performance  Stock to a Key Employee under this  Plan  shall  not

constitute a contract of employment and shall not confer on a Key

Employee  any  rights upon his or her termination  of  employment

with  the  Company in addition to those rights, if any, expressly

set  forth in the Performance Stock Agreement related to  his  or

her Performance Stock.

      12.03      Withholding.   The acceptance  of  an  award  of

Performance  Stock  shall constitute a Key  Employee's  full  and

complete consent to whatever action the Committee deems necessary

to satisfy the federal and state tax withholding requirements, if

any, that the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion deems

applicable  to such Performance Stock.  The Committee also  shall

have the right to provide in a Performance Stock Agreement that a

Key   Employee  may  elect  to  satisfy  federal  and  state  tax

withholding  requirements through a reduction in  the  number  of

shares  of  Stock actually transferred to him or her  under  this

Plan,  and  any  such  election and any such reduction  shall  be

effected  so as to satisfy the conditions to the exemption  under

Rule 16b-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

      12.04     Governing Law.  The provisions of this Plan shall

be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the

State of Florida.




      IN  WITNESS WHEREOF, Poe & Brown, Inc. has caused its  duly

authorized  officer to execute this Plan as of the  31st  day  of

October, 1995, to evidence its adoption of this Plan.


                              POE & BROWN, INC.


                              By: /s/ Laurel J. Lenfestey
                                 _____________________________________
                                   Laurel J. Lenfestey
                                   Vice President, Secretary
                                     and General Counsel



Approved by the Board of Directors:  October 31, 1995

Approved by Shareholders:


                                
                                
                                
                                           
                                  Exhibit 5



                              October 28, 1996


Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street N.W.
Washington, DC  20549

Dear Sir/Madam:

      As  Assistant  General Counsel of Poe &  Brown,  Inc.  (the
"Registrant"), I am familiar with the preparation and  filing  of
the  Registrant's Registration Statement on Form  S-8,  as  filed
with  the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about  October
15,  1996, pursuant to which the Registrant proposes to issue  up
to  400,000 shares of its common stock, par value $.10 per  share
("Registrant's Common Stock"), pursuant to the Poe & Brown,  Inc.
Stock Performance Plan (the "Plan").

     I have reviewed the Plan and the Registration Statement, and
have  examined  and  am  familiar with the  documents,  corporate
records and other instruments of the Registrant relating  to  the
proposed issuance of the Registrant's Common Stock which  I  deem
relevant and which form the basis of the opinion hereinafter  set
forth.

      I  am  of  the opinion that under the laws of the State  of
Florida, the jurisdiction in which the Registrant is incorporated
and  the  jurisdiction in which the Registrant has its  principal
office,  upon  the  issuance of the shares  of  the  Registrant's
Common  Stock  pursuant to the aforesaid Registration  Statement,
all  such shares when so issued will be duly authorized,  validly
issued  and  outstanding,  and  will  be  fully  paid  and   non-
assessable.

     The undersigned counsel to the Registrant hereby consents to
the  use of my opinion as Exhibit 5 to the aforesaid Registration
Statement.

                              Sincerely yours,
                              
                              POE & BROWN, INC.
                              
                              /s/ James L. Olivier
                              
                              James L. Olivier
JLO/jag



                          
                          EXHIBIT 23a
                                
           CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent certified public accountants, we hereby consent to
the incorporation by reference in this registration statement of our
report dated January 29, 1996, incorporated by reference in Poe &
Brown, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and to
all references to our firm included in this registration statement.

                                /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

Orlando, Florida 
   October 25, 1996 



                          EXHIBIT 23b

        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement
(Form S-8) pertaining to the Poe & Brown Stock Performance Plan of Poe &
Brown, Inc. of our report dated January 28, 1995, except for the last
paragraph of Note 2, as to which the date is March 1, 1995, with respect
to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Poe & Brown, Inc.
incorporated by reference in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year 
ended December 31, 1995, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


                                     /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
                                   
Tampa, Florida
October 25, 1996




                           EXHIBIT 24a



                        POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned constitutes and appoints Laurel J. Lenfestey and

James L. Olivier, or either of them, as his true and  lawful attorney-in-

fact  and agent, with full power of substitution  and resubstitution,

for him and in his name, place and stead, in  any and all capacities, to

sign the Registration Statement for Poe  & Brown,  Inc.  on  Form  S-8

with respect to the  registration  of shares  of  common  stock  under

the  Poe  &  Brown,  Inc.  Stock Performance  Plan,  and  to  file the

same,  with  all  exhibits thereto,  and other documents in connection

therewith,  with  the Securities and Exchange  Commission, granting unto

said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to  do  and

perform  each and every act and thing requisite and necessary  to be

done  in  and about the premises as fully to all intents  and purposes

as  he might or could in person, hereby  ratifying  and confirming all

that said attorneys-in-fact and agents,  or  their substitutes,  may

lawfully do or cause  to  be  done  by  virtue hereof.


                              /s/ Bradley Currey, Jr.
                               _______________________________
                               Bradley Currey, Jr.

Dated: July 30, 1996





                            POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned constitutes and appoints Laurel J. Lenfestey and

James L. Olivier, or either of them, as his true and  lawful attorney-in-

fact  and agent, with full power of substitution  and resubstitution,

for him and in his name, place and stead, in  any and all capacities, to

sign the Registration Statement for Poe  & Brown,  Inc.  on  Form  S-8

with respect to the  registration  of shares  of  common  stock  under

the  Poe  &  Brown,  Inc.  Stock Performance  Plan,  and  to  file the

same,  with  all  exhibits thereto,  and other documents in connection

therewith,  with  the Securities  and   Exchange  Commission,

granting  unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to

do and perform  each and every act and thing requisite and necessary  to be

done  in  and about the premises as fully to all intents  and purposes

as  he might or could in person, hereby  ratifying  and confirming all

that said attorneys-in-fact and agents,  or  their substitutes,  may

lawfully do or cause  to  be  done  by  virtue hereof.


                                    /s/ J. Hyatt Brown
                                   __________________________________
                                   J. Hyatt Brown

Dated: July 30, 1996



                            POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned constitutes and appoints Laurel J. Lenfestey and

James L. Olivier, or either of them, as his true and  lawful attorney-in-

fact  and agent, with full power of substitution  and resubstitution,

for him and in his name, place and stead, in  any and all capacities, to

sign the Registration Statement for Poe  & Brown,  Inc.  on  Form  S-8

with respect to the  registration  of shares  of  common  stock  under

the  Poe  &  Brown,  Inc.  Stock Performance  Plan,  and  to  file the

same,  with  all  exhibits thereto,  and other documents in connection

therewith,  with  the Securities   and   Exchange  Commission,

granting   unto   said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and

authority to  do  and perform  each and every act and thing requisite

and necessary  to be  done  in  and about the premises as fully to all

intents  and purposes  as  he might or could in person, hereby

ratifying  and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents,

or  their substitutes,  may  lawfully do or cause  to  be  done  by

virtue hereof.


                                     /s/ Bruce G. Geer
                                    _________________________________
                                     Bruce G. Geer

Dated: July 30, 1996



                            POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned constitutes and appoints Laurel J. Lenfestey and

James L. Olivier, or either of them, as his true and  lawful attorney-in-

fact  and agent, with full power of substitution  and resubstitution,

for him and in his name, place and stead, in  any and all capacities, to

sign the Registration Statement for Poe  & Brown,  Inc.  on  Form  S-8

with respect to the  registration  of shares  of  common  stock  under

the  Poe  &  Brown,  Inc.  Stock Performance  Plan,  and  to  file the

same,  with  all  exhibits thereto,  and other documents in connection

therewith,  with  the Securities   and   Exchange  Commission,

granting   unto   said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and

authority to  do  and perform  each and every act and thing requisite

and necessary  to be  done  in  and about the premises as fully to all

intents  and purposes  as  he might or could in person, hereby

ratifying  and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents,

or  their substitutes,  may  lawfully do or cause  to  be  done  by

virtue hereof.

                                   /s/ Samuel P. Bell, III
                                   _______________________________
                                   Samuel P. Bell, III

Dated: July 30, 1996




                            POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned constitutes and appoints Laurel J. Lenfestey and

James L. Olivier, or either of them, as his true and  lawful attorney-in-

fact  and agent, with full power of substitution  and resubstitution,

for him and in his name, place and stead, in  any and all capacities, to

sign the Registration Statement for Poe  & Brown,  Inc.  on  Form  S-8

with respect to the  registration  of shares  of  common  stock  under

the  Poe  &  Brown,  Inc.  Stock Performance  Plan,  and  to  file the

same,  with  all  exhibits thereto,  and other documents in connection

therewith,  with  the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said

attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to  do  and

perform  each and every act and thing requisite and necessary  to be

done  in  and about the premises as fully to all intents  and purposes

as  he might or could in person, hereby  ratifying  and confirming all

that said attorneys-in-fact and agents,  or  their substitutes,  may

lawfully do or cause  to  be  done  by  virtue hereof.



                                  /s/ Theodore J. Hoepner
                                  ____________________________________
                                  Theodore J. Hoepner

Dated: July 30, 1996



                            POWER OF ATTORNEY

     The undersigned constitutes and appoints Laurel J. Lenfestey and

James L. Olivier, or either of them, as his true and  lawful attorney-in-

fact  and agent, with full power of substitution  and resubstitution,

for him and in his name, place and stead, in  any and all capacities, to

sign the Registration Statement for Poe  & Brown,  Inc.  on  Form  S-8

with respect to the  registration  of shares  of  common  stock  under

the  Poe  &  Brown,  Inc.  Stock Performance  Plan,  and  to  file the

same,  with  all  exhibits thereto,  and other documents in connection

therewith,  with  the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto

said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to  do  and

perform  each and every act and thing requisite and necessary  to be

done  in  and about the premises as fully to all intents  and purposes

as  he might or could in person, hereby  ratifying  and confirming all

that said attorneys-in-fact and agents,  or  their substitutes,  may

lawfully do or cause  to  be  done  by  virtue hereof.



                                     /s/ Kenneth E. Hill
                                    _________________________________
                                    Kenneth E. Hill

Dated: July 30, 1996




                          EXHIBIT 24b

                   RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE
              BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF POE & BROWN, INC.

      I,  Laurel Lenfestey Grammig, hereby certify that I am  the duly
elected and qualified Secretary of Poe & Brown,  Inc.  (the "Company"),
and that the following resolutions were adopted at  a meeting of the
Board of Directors of the Company held on July 30, 1996, and such
resolutions have not been rescinded or modified in any fashion:

     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has reviewed a draft of the
     Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8  with respect  to the
     registration of 400,000 shares  of  the Company's  common  stock to
     be  reserved  for  issuance under the  Company's Stock  Performance
     Plan (the "Registration Statement'); it is therefore

     RESOLVED,  that the draft of the Registration Statement submitted
     to the Directors is hereby approved  in  form and substance,
     subject to any non-substantive revisions deemed necessary or
     appropriate by Laurel J. Lenfestey, the  Company's  Vice President,
     Secretary  and  General Counsel;
     
     FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chief Executive Officer  and the  Chief
     Financial Officer of the Company are  hereby authorized to sign the
     Registration Statement on behalf of the Company, either personally
     or through a power of attorney, and to cause the Registration Statement
     to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission  in accordance
     with the rules promulgated by the Commission;

     FURTHER RESOLVED, that the appropriate officers of  the Company are
     hereby authorized and directed to take  all actions  they deem
     necessary or appropriate,  including the  payment of all necessary
     filing fees, to carry out the intent of the foregoing resolutions.
     
     
      IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned  Secretary  has executed
this certificate this 28th day of October, 1996.



                              /s/  Laurel Lenfestey Grammig
                              ___________________________________
                              Laurel Lenfestey Grammig
                              Secretary