A Look at Our Rich History as a National Company
1848 – Founding
November 13, 1848
Company is chartered under the name, “National Life Insurance Company of the United States” and the first policies are issued.
1849
Company locates in Montpelier, has first board meeting, bylaws and table of rates are adopted, officers elected, first company prospectus issued. William C. Kittredge is named as President and Julius Dewey, M.D. is named as first Medical Director.
The 1850s
1850
Company moves to its first home at 27 State Street in office space leased from Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance.
Benjamin Balch is dismissed and Roger S. Howard is elected secretary. First policies issued in Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio and Canada.
First claim: Rowland Allen of Ferrisburgh, Vermont, dies in San Diego, on his way to the California Gold Rush.
1851
Dr. Julius Y. Dewey is elected President.
New by-laws are adopted. First policies issued in Maine and Wisconsin. Insurance in force is 401 Whole Life policies with a total face of $498,400, and 381 Term with a total face of $479,950.
Insurance in force: $100k
1852
George W. Reed is elected secretary.
Charter is amended to allow more diversified investment options.
1853
First General Agency opens in Montreal, Quebec.
First policy issued in Michigan.
Insurance in force: $1 million
1856
First policy issued in Connecticut.
1858
Charter is amended: company becomes National Life Insurance Company, “of the United States” is removed from name.
First policy issued in New Jersey.
Insurance in force: $1 million
The 1860s
1860
Third Home Office building occupied at 116 State Street, where it remained for thirteen years.
Insurance in force: $2 million
1861
Charles Dewey, son of Dr. Dewey, begins to appear in company records at age 44.
Civil War begins. Company feels war will be short so insureds are allowed to serve in the military for a 2% extra premium.
First policy issued in Rhode Island.
1873
Fourth Home Office building located at 110 State Street in space rented from Vermont Mutual.
Insurance in force: $2 million
1874
First attempt by corporate raiders to make a hostile takeover of National Life. The effort fails when raiders failed to file in the time frame specified in the bylaws.
1876
Second raid on National Life is attempted, but it was prevented by issuing stock to the directors.
Assets: $2 million
1877
Emma Dimick is hired as the first female employee in the Home Office.
1891
Fifth Home Office building is located at 116 State Street. There are 20 employees.
Insurance in force: $50 million
1892
First known year that National Life calendars are issued.
1894
Tag line “Old, Tried, True” first appears.
1900
Company celebrates its 50th anniversary.
100 top agents are invited to the Home Office.
1901
James C. Houghton is elected President.
Insurance in force: $100 million
1902
Actuary Joseph A. DeBoer is elected President.
1903
National Life becomes owner of the Waterbury Opera House considered to be one of the largest and best for any town of its size. The Opera House was funded and built by volunteers.
1905
The first use of “of Vermont” appears on annual report.
1916
Attorney Fred A. Howland is elected President.
Assets: $50 million
1917
World War I – National Life subscribes for a Liberty Loan of $315,000 to support the war effort with the employees purchasing another $30,000.
1918
The company pays more than $1 million in claims during the Spanish influenza epidemic of 1918–19 while also paying World War I claims. Company paid out on 131 lives with 61 having been Killed In Action.
1919
Ellen Putnam, one of the company’s earliest female agents is contracted as an agent with Rochester Agency #036. Just prior to her death at age 95 on February 27, 1989, she took the largest application of her career.
1920
A lightning strike sets a transformer inside Home Office #5 at 116 State Street on fire. Smoke rolled out of the rear windows for 15 minutes before the fire was put out by employees with extinguishers.
1922
Company moves into new sixth Home Office building at 133 State Street with 209 employees. The company builds a suspension foot bridge over the Winooski River near today’s Bailey Street bridge so employees can reach the company’s recreational facilities at the base of National Life Drive. The bridge was washed away in the Flood of 1927.
1923
Concept of Coleman Mutual Aid Association is created in Coleman, Texas, literally from a conversation around a pot-bellied stove. Sam T. Cobb Sr. was the founder. This eventually grew into Life Insurance Company of the Southwest. Coleman’s first office was in Bowen’s Drug Store in Coleman, Texas.
1924
Coleman Mutual Aid Association opens for business.
1925
National Life celebrates its 75th anniversary with a book on the company’s history written by Arthur B. Bisbee.
Assets: $100 million
1927
133 State Street suffers heavy damages in basement in 1927 flood. Most archival company documents destroyed.
1928
The company wins National Life Insurance Company vs United States in a U.S. Supreme Court decision. (277 U.S. 508) This struck down portions of the Revenue Act of 1921 and returned $1.5 million of collected federal taxes back to National Life.
1933
Coleman Mutual Aid Society assesses each member $1.10 on each death claim and acquires two burial associations, expanding its business in northern Texas.
1934
First advertisement in National Life’s Historic Art Series appears in Saturday Evening Post and Time magazines. The primary artist is Roy F. Heinrich.
1935
The company begins to actively promote its Vermont roots. The annual report shows “VERMONT” heavily bolded in the logo with a large font. Coleman Mutual Aid Society expands by acquiring J.E. Stevens Company Burial Association and Stevens-Gober Burial Association of Brady, Texas.
1937
Elbert S. Brigham is elected President. National Life ad appears in Saturday Evening Post and Time magazines advertising the LIVING BENEFITS of National Life policies.
1938
Retirement plan for employees established on a formal basis.
Assets: $200 million
1941
World War II – War clauses suspended for all policies in order to pay death benefits on those who died in combat.
1942
President Brigham announces that due to the war the company will begin working longer hours, including Saturdays. Employee pay was increased by 5% to cover the extra time.
Assets: $250 million
1943
The company begins to use the Vermont coat-of-arms with a “National Life of Vermont” banner as the logo. This was used occasionally until 1948. Retirement plan for agents established.
1944
The Home Office retirement plan was extended to regular salaried workers in agency and loan offices.
1945
Home Office training schools are established, offering three courses for agents.
Assets: $300 million
1946
Mrs. Elva F. Phillips of the Harrisburg Agency is the first female agent to attend a Training School in the Home Office.
1948
Ernest M. Hopkins is elected President.
First edition of the employee magazine Contact is issued as suggested by President Hopkins and initially not published on a regular schedule.
“Men of the Year” inaugurated.
First appearance of the tag line, “Solid as the Granite Hills of Vermont.”
1950
Attorney Deane C. Davis is elected President.
1952
The National Life Recreation Association obtains a charter from the State of Vermont to open the National Life Employees Credit Union.
In 2002 it becomes the Granite Hills Credit Union.
1953
The company begins to again use “of Vermont” on letterhead and other materials.
Dora E. Paradee, age 17, of Fairfield, Vt. purchases policy #1,000,000. Her occupation was listed as “farm girl.”
1954
The company offers 15 acres of the National Life Recreation Field to the City of Montpelier for free if they build a new high school there within two years.
1955
Coleman Life Insurance Company is chartered as a legal reserve carrier separate from the Coleman Mutual Aid Society.
The National Life gold seal logo, introduced in 1954, makes its first significant appearance in the Annual Report. The company considers moving out of Montpelier.
1956
National Life announces the decision to stay in Montpelier, and puts its land for a proposed home office near Burlington up for sale.
Insurance in force: $2 billion
1957
Construction begins on the current Home Office in Vermont.
1958
Vermont Governor Joseph B. Johnson pours soil from all 48 states and 2 territories into the footings of the new building.
1959
Executive Vice President L. Douglas Meredith states that the company needs to expand its business into the Spanish speaking world.
The legal reserve Coleman Company reinsures the mutual Coleman Aid Society.
1960
The Current Home Office is dedicated and occupied with 550 employees.
The “N” in National Life for the large sign on the roof is installed. Originally a red neon sign, the electricity was turned off during the 1973 energy crisis.
1961
The lobby mural by Paul Sample is dedicated.
A Remington-Rand Univac STEP computer costing $250,000 is installed on the fourth floor. A first for Vermont.
Deane C. Davis, President of National Life is named life insurance “Man of the Year” by The Insurance Field, a biweekly newspaper.
1962
The Coleman Mutual Aid Society becomes Life Insurance of the Southwest.
1965
Deane C. Davis is named Chairman of the Board.
1966
Dr. John T. Fey becomes President.
Insurance in force: $4 billion
1968
Equity Services Incorporated forms.
Four members of the Home Office are killed in crash of Northeast Airlines Flight #946. They are memorialized on a plaque in the company cafeteria.
1969
Deane C. Davis becomes 74th Governor of Vermont serving until 1973.
First mainframe computer (RCA) is installed in Home Office.
Catherine Burns announces her retirement from National Life after 47 years, second longest in company history to that point.
A deal to locate a Howard Johnson’s motel on National Life property collapses, despite tax breaks from the City of Montpelier and low lease rates from National Life.
The Hopkins Guest House is built instead.
Insurance in force: $5 billion
1973
Pension Department created. Director is Irwin (Bro) Park, Jr.
1974
Norman Campbell becomes President.
1975
Sculptor Lothar Wuerslin of Sandgate, Vermont delivers his carving of Dr. Julius Dewey created from laminated basswood.
1976
National Life Investment Management Co. purchases USLIFE Mutual Funds Management Corp., which becomes Sentinel Advisors.
1977
Richard Fricke becomes President.
1978
National Life’s new main frame computer the Univac 90/80-3 comes online.
1979
Modular office set ups replace lines of desks in the Home Office.
1981
Three new subsidiaries are formed: Champlain Life, Vermont Life and National Pension Life are incorporated.
1982
A new publication, Contact Weekly, is launched for Home Office employees to be delivered each Friday on the mail cart. Eventually, this replaces Contact magazine in a far less expensive format.
1984
The first employee computers are installed.
1985
Dr. Pat Woolf of Princeton University becomes the first woman to join the Board of Directors.
OMNI II comes online. For the first time, the Field Force can connect to the IBM mainframe from individual PCs. E-mails are called “OMNICRONS.”
Rebuilt cafeteria opens.
1986
Joan Snovich is promoted to Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, becoming the first female officer of the company.
Contact magazine ceases regular publication due to cost. A few later issues were produced randomly.
1987
Attorney Fred Bertrand becomes President and CEO.
Insurance in force: $25 billion
1988
The new Davis Building is completed after two years of construction. Pension Department moves and occupies the entire third floor.
1992
After historic flooding hits downtown Montpelier, National Life donates $250,000 to help those affected.
1993
Eileen von Gal is the first woman to be appointed as Treasurer.
1995
New corporate logo and tag line introduced: “With you wherever the road may lead.”
National Life announces the acquisition of a majority interest in Life Insurance Company of the Southwest.
1996
National Life website goes live.
Board of Directors reaffirms its plan to remain in Vermont.
1997
Pat Welch becomes the new CEO.
He makes it clear the company needs to make some dramatic changes in order to survive and prosper.
1998
New “triangle” corporate logo is adopted.
The triangles signify the full merging of National Life with LSW.
1999
National Life Holding Company becomes the entity at the highest level of National Life Group.
“National Life Group” logo first appears. National Life purchases the remaining one third of LSW.
2000
“National Life Group” is added to the stacked triangle logo.
Insurance in force: $40 billion
2001
Tom MacLeay’s retirement as President and COO marks the first time in many decades that there is no native Vermonter in senior management.
World Trade Center and Pentagon terrorist attack. CEO Pat Welch keeps the company open. While no one insured by National Life lost their life, many were in the World Trade Center during the attack.
All mainframe computer operations are moved offsite. National Life Vermont mainframe system is turned off.
2002
Pat Welch announces his resignation to become President of CIGNA Health Care.
2003
Tom MacLeay returns as new Chief Executive Officer and Jim Mallon as New Chief Operating Officer.
2004
Information Systems are outsourced.
Jim Mallon announces his resignation as President and Chief Marketing Officer. Mallon was responsible for creating the Independent Channel at National Life.
2006
Bronze plaque in honor of four National Life agents lost in World War Two is dedicated at a meeting of the General Agents.
“National Life of Vermont” sign is removed from the building to be replaced by the new logo and “National Life Group.”
2008
Tom MacLeay and Vermont Governor Jim Douglas flip the switch to activate 418 solar panels on National Life's roof – the largest array in the state at that time.
The Home Office building is awarded LEED environmental certification. 418 panels provide 75,000 kilowatt-hours per year.
National Life Group launches eWeekly online and stops printing paper copies.
2009
Mehran Assadi becomes CEO with Tom MacLeay as Chairman of the Board.
2010
CEO Mehran Assadi announces new vision and mission statements:
Vision: To bring peace of mind to everyone we touch.
Mission: Keeping our promises.
New biomass wood chip plant comes on line and begins to heat the Home Office, cutting heating costs in half and reducing the building’s carbon footprint to the equivalent of twelve woodstoves.
Insurance in force: $62 billion
2011
LifeChanger of the Year, a national educator award program, is introduced to honor and award thousands of K–12 teachers and school staff.
Dallas Home Office moves from Mockingbird Lane to the Millennium Tower in Addison.
Major effort to consolidate all of the many National Life logos into one. At least ten were in current use.
Former Vermont Governor James Douglas joins the Board of Directors.
2012
CEO Mehran Assadi announces new value set for the company: Do good. Be good. Make good.
Women’s Inclusion Network (WIN) is founded to encourage the professional development of women both in the field and the Home Office.
The company rolls out its first national public relations campaign in over 60 years.
2013
NLG hits a new sales record on Dec. 5 and every new sale through the end of the year sets another new record.
Massive ice storm hits Dallas.
2014
The first Do Good Fest, a benefit concert on National Life’s lawn, is held to support the Branches of Hope cancer patient fund.
2,000 solar panels are installed on four acres of National Life property off Northfield St. just south of the Home Office. The array provides 500 KW and 15% of the company’s power needs.
2015
eWeekly ends and is replaced by The Weekly.
www.NationalLifeGroup.com website goes live.
Granite sign is installed at the entrance to the complex with National Life name and logo.
Insurance in force: $93 billion
2016
CEO Mehran Assadi is featured on the cover and in the new book CAUSE! by authors Jackie and Kevin Freiberg, focused on the success of mission-driven companies.
The book focuses on the success of mission-driven companies.
“Dear World” portraits campaign launched.
Employees have words and sayings written on their bodies to illustrate their thoughts and goals in life.
National Life rolls out Main Streets Across America. The campaign highlights the company’s Main Street brand and Main Street values.
Kim Goodman and Carol A. Carlson become the second and third women to join the Board of Directors. For the first time in company history, three women sit on the board.
New record set for both life and annuity flow sales.
Company is 18th largest in the U.S. in terms of sales.
Assets: $33 billion
Insurance in force: $105 billion
Carol A. Carlson
2017
CEO Mehran Assadi announces the sale of Sentinel Asset Management to Touchstone Investments.
The Paul Sample mural, which was donated to Vermont Historical Society opens to the public at the Pavilion Building in Montpelier.
Tom MacLeay steps down as Chairman of the Board and is replaced by CEO Mehran Assadi.
2018
National Life makes the Fortune 1000 list.
National Life Group Foundation's annual budget is doubled to $2 million and Share the Good launches, matching over $250,000 in employee donations.
2019
The National Coalition for Safe Schools (NCSS) is founded by LifeChanger of the Year winners with National Life’s support.
National Life passes its goal to protect one million customers.
2020
National Life establishes a $20 million endowment fund for the National Life Group Foundation.
BUILD (Blacks Uplifted in Leadership Development) is established to support the Black agent community, growing 1200% in its first year.
2022
Do Good Fest returns to Vermont, and the inaugural Do Good Fest Texas is held, raising $146,000 for local nonprofits.
National Life begins the celebration of its 175th year as a financially strong and independent force for good.
A Look at Our Rich History as a National Company
1848 – Founding
November 13, 1848
Company is chartered under the name, “National Life Insurance Company of the United States” and the first policies are issued.
1849
Company locates in Montpelier, has first board meeting, bylaws and table of rates are adopted, officers elected, first company prospectus issued. William C. Kittredge is named as President and Julius Dewey, M.D. is named as first Medical Director.
The 1850s
1850
Company moves to its first home at 27 State Street in office space leased from Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance.
Benjamin Balch is dismissed and Roger S. Howard is elected secretary. First policies issued in Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio and Canada.
First claim: Rowland Allen of Ferrisburgh, Vermont, dies in San Diego, on his way to the California Gold Rush.
1851
Dr. Julius Y. Dewey is elected President.
New by-laws are adopted. First policies issued in Maine and Wisconsin. Insurance in force is 401 Whole Life policies with a total face of $498,400, and 381 Term with a total face of $479,950.
Insurance in force: $100k
1852
George W. Reed is elected secretary.
Charter is amended to allow more diversified investment options.
1853
First General Agency opens in Montreal, Quebec.
First policy issued in Michigan.
Insurance in force: $1 million
1856
First policy issued in Connecticut.
1858
Charter is amended: company becomes National Life Insurance Company, “of the United States” is removed from name.
First policy issued in New Jersey.
Insurance in force: $1 million
The 1860s
1860
Third Home Office building occupied at 116 State Street, where it remained for thirteen years.
Insurance in force: $2 million
1861
Charles Dewey, son of Dr. Dewey, begins to appear in company records at age 44.
Civil War begins. Company feels war will be short so insureds are allowed to serve in the military for a 2% extra premium.
First policy issued in Rhode Island.
The 1870s
1873
Fourth Home Office building located at 110 State Street in space rented from Vermont Mutual.
Insurance in force: $2 million
1874
First attempt by corporate raiders to make a hostile takeover of National Life. The effort fails when raiders failed to file in the time frame specified in the bylaws.
1876
Second raid on National Life is attempted, but it was prevented by issuing stock to the directors.
Assets: $2 million
1877
Emma Dimick is hired as the first female employee in the Home Office.
The 1880s
1888
Tag line “The Best Insurance in the World” first appears.
Assets: $5 million
The 1890s
1891
Fifth Home Office building is located at 116 State Street. There are 20 employees.
Insurance in force: $50 million
1892
First known year that National Life calendars are issued.
1894
Tag line “Old, Tried, True” first appears.
The 1900s
1900
Company celebrates its 50th anniversary.
100 top agents are invited to the Home Office.
1901
James C. Houghton is elected President.
Insurance in force: $100 million
1902
Actuary Joseph A. DeBoer is elected President.
1903
National Life becomes owner of the Waterbury Opera House considered to be one of the largest and best for any town of its size. The Opera House was funded and built by volunteers.
1905
The first use of “of Vermont” appears on annual report.
The 1910s
1916
Attorney Fred A. Howland is elected President.
Assets: $50 million
1917
World War I – National Life subscribes for a Liberty Loan of $315,000 to support the war effort with the employees purchasing another $30,000.
1918
The company pays more than $1 million in claims during the Spanish influenza epidemic of 1918–19 while also paying World War I claims. Company paid out on 131 lives with 61 having been Killed In Action.
1919
Ellen Putnam, one of the company’s earliest female agents is contracted as an agent with Rochester Agency #036. Just prior to her death at age 95 on February 27, 1989, she took the largest application of her career.
The 1920s
1920
A lightning strike sets a transformer inside Home Office #5 at 116 State Street on fire. Smoke rolled out of the rear windows for 15 minutes before the fire was put out by employees with extinguishers.
1922
Company moves into new sixth Home Office building at 133 State Street with 209 employees. The company builds a suspension foot bridge over the Winooski River near today’s Bailey Street bridge so employees can reach the company’s recreational facilities at the base of National Life Drive. The bridge was washed away in the Flood of 1927.
1923
Concept of Coleman Mutual Aid Association is created in Coleman, Texas, literally from a conversation around a pot-bellied stove. Sam T. Cobb Sr. was the founder. This eventually grew into Life Insurance Company of the Southwest. Coleman’s first office was in Bowen’s Drug Store in Coleman, Texas.
1924
Coleman Mutual Aid Association opens for business.
1925
National Life celebrates its 75th anniversary with a book on the company’s history written by Arthur B. Bisbee.
Assets: $100 million
1927
133 State Street suffers heavy damages in basement in 1927 flood. Most archival company documents destroyed.
1928
The company wins National Life Insurance Company vs United States in a U.S. Supreme Court decision. (277 U.S. 508) This struck down portions of the Revenue Act of 1921 and returned $1.5 million of collected federal taxes back to National Life.
The 1930s
1933
Coleman Mutual Aid Society assesses each member $1.10 on each death claim and acquires two burial associations, expanding its business in northern Texas.
1934
First advertisement in National Life’s Historic Art Series appears in Saturday Evening Post and Time magazines. The primary artist is Roy F. Heinrich.
1935
The company begins to actively promote its Vermont roots. The annual report shows “VERMONT” heavily bolded in the logo with a large font. Coleman Mutual Aid Society expands by acquiring J.E. Stevens Company Burial Association and Stevens-Gober Burial Association of Brady, Texas.
1937
Elbert S. Brigham is elected President. National Life ad appears in Saturday Evening Post and Time magazines advertising the LIVING BENEFITS of National Life policies.
1938
Retirement plan for employees established on a formal basis.
Assets: $200 million
The 1940s
1941
World War II – War clauses suspended for all policies in order to pay death benefits on those who died in combat.
1942
President Brigham announces that due to the war the company will begin working longer hours, including Saturdays. Employee pay was increased by 5% to cover the extra time.
Assets: $250 million
1943
The company begins to use the Vermont coat-of-arms with a “National Life of Vermont” banner as the logo. This was used occasionally until 1948. Retirement plan for agents established.
1944
The Home Office retirement plan was extended to regular salaried workers in agency and loan offices.
1945
Home Office training schools are established, offering three courses for agents.
Assets: $300 million
1946
Mrs. Elva F. Phillips of the Harrisburg Agency is the first female agent to attend a Training School in the Home Office.
1948
Ernest M. Hopkins is elected President.
First edition of the employee magazine Contact is issued as suggested by President Hopkins and initially not published on a regular schedule.
“Men of the Year” inaugurated.
First appearance of the tag line, “Solid as the Granite Hills of Vermont.”
The 1950s
1950
Attorney Deane C. Davis is elected President.
1952
The National Life Recreation Association obtains a charter from the State of Vermont to open the National Life Employees Credit Union.
In 2002 it becomes the Granite Hills Credit Union.
1953
The company begins to again use “of Vermont” on letterhead and other materials.
Dora E. Paradee, age 17, of Fairfield, Vt. purchases policy #1,000,000. Her occupation was listed as “farm girl.”
1954
The company offers 15 acres of the National Life Recreation Field to the City of Montpelier for free if they build a new high school there within two years.
1955
Coleman Life Insurance Company is chartered as a legal reserve carrier separate from the Coleman Mutual Aid Society.
The National Life gold seal logo, introduced in 1954, makes its first significant appearance in the Annual Report. The company considers moving out of Montpelier.
1956
National Life announces the decision to stay in Montpelier, and puts its land for a proposed home office near Burlington up for sale.
Insurance in force: $2 billion
1957
Construction begins on the current Home Office in Vermont.
1958
Vermont Governor Joseph B. Johnson pours soil from all 48 states and 2 territories into the footings of the new building.
1959
Executive Vice President L. Douglas Meredith states that the company needs to expand its business into the Spanish speaking world.
The legal reserve Coleman Company reinsures the mutual Coleman Aid Society.
The 1960s
1960
The Current Home Office is dedicated and occupied with 550 employees.
The “N” in National Life for the large sign on the roof is installed. Originally a red neon sign, the electricity was turned off during the 1973 energy crisis.
1961
The lobby mural by Paul Sample is dedicated.
A Remington-Rand Univac STEP computer costing $250,000 is installed on the fourth floor. A first for Vermont.
Deane C. Davis, President of National Life is named life insurance “Man of the Year” by The Insurance Field, a biweekly newspaper.
1962
The Coleman Mutual Aid Society becomes Life Insurance of the Southwest.
1965
Deane C. Davis is named Chairman of the Board.
1966
Dr. John T. Fey becomes President.
Insurance in force: $4 billion
1968
Equity Services Incorporated forms.
Four members of the Home Office are killed in crash of Northeast Airlines Flight #946. They are memorialized on a plaque in the company cafeteria.
1969
Deane C. Davis becomes 74th Governor of Vermont serving until 1973.
First mainframe computer (RCA) is installed in Home Office.
Catherine Burns announces her retirement from National Life after 47 years, second longest in company history to that point.
A deal to locate a Howard Johnson’s motel on National Life property collapses, despite tax breaks from the City of Montpelier and low lease rates from National Life.
The Hopkins Guest House is built instead.
Insurance in force: $5 billion
The 1970s
1973
Pension Department created. Director is Irwin (Bro) Park, Jr.
1974
Norman Campbell becomes President.
1975
Sculptor Lothar Wuerslin of Sandgate, Vermont delivers his carving of Dr. Julius Dewey created from laminated basswood.
1976
National Life Investment Management Co. purchases USLIFE Mutual Funds Management Corp., which becomes Sentinel Advisors.
1977
Richard Fricke becomes President.
1978
National Life’s new main frame computer the Univac 90/80-3 comes online.
1979
Modular office set ups replace lines of desks in the Home Office.
The 1980s
1981
Three new subsidiaries are formed: Champlain Life, Vermont Life and National Pension Life are incorporated.
1982
A new publication, Contact Weekly, is launched for Home Office employees to be delivered each Friday on the mail cart. Eventually, this replaces Contact magazine in a far less expensive format.
1984
The first employee computers are installed.
1985
Dr. Pat Woolf of Princeton University becomes the first woman to join the Board of Directors.
OMNI II comes online. For the first time, the Field Force can connect to the IBM mainframe from individual PCs. E-mails are called “OMNICRONS.”
Rebuilt cafeteria opens.
1986
Joan Snovich is promoted to Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, becoming the first female officer of the company.
Contact magazine ceases regular publication due to cost. A few later issues were produced randomly.
1987
Attorney Fred Bertrand becomes President and CEO.
Insurance in force: $25 billion
1988
The new Davis Building is completed after two years of construction. Pension Department moves and occupies the entire third floor.
The 1990s
1992
After historic flooding hits downtown Montpelier, National Life donates $250,000 to help those affected.
1993
Eileen von Gal is the first woman to be appointed as Treasurer.
1995
New corporate logo and tag line introduced: “With you wherever the road may lead.”
National Life announces the acquisition of a majority interest in Life Insurance Company of the Southwest.
1996
National Life website goes live.
Board of Directors reaffirms its plan to remain in Vermont.
1997
Pat Welch becomes the new CEO.
He makes it clear the company needs to make some dramatic changes in order to survive and prosper.
1998
New “triangle” corporate logo is adopted.
The triangles signify the full merging of National Life with LSW.
1999
National Life Holding Company becomes the entity at the highest level of National Life Group.
“National Life Group” logo first appears. National Life purchases the remaining one third of LSW.
The 2000s
2000
“National Life Group” is added to the stacked triangle logo.
Insurance in force: $40 billion
2001
Tom MacLeay’s retirement as President and COO marks the first time in many decades that there is no native Vermonter in senior management.
World Trade Center and Pentagon terrorist attack. CEO Pat Welch keeps the company open. While no one insured by National Life lost their life, many were in the World Trade Center during the attack.
All mainframe computer operations are moved offsite. National Life Vermont mainframe system is turned off.
2002
Pat Welch announces his resignation to become President of CIGNA Health Care.
2003
Tom MacLeay returns as new Chief Executive Officer and Jim Mallon as New Chief Operating Officer.
2004
Information Systems are outsourced.
Jim Mallon announces his resignation as President and Chief Marketing Officer. Mallon was responsible for creating the Independent Channel at National Life.
2006
Bronze plaque in honor of four National Life agents lost in World War Two is dedicated at a meeting of the General Agents.
“National Life of Vermont” sign is removed from the building to be replaced by the new logo and “National Life Group.”
2008
Tom MacLeay and Vermont Governor Jim Douglas flip the switch to activate 418 solar panels on National Life's roof – the largest array in the state at that time.
The Home Office building is awarded LEED environmental certification. 418 panels provide 75,000 kilowatt-hours per year.
National Life Group launches eWeekly online and stops printing paper copies.
2009
Mehran Assadi becomes CEO with Tom MacLeay as Chairman of the Board.
The 2010s
2010
CEO Mehran Assadi announces new vision and mission statements:
Vision: To bring peace of mind to everyone we touch.
Mission: Keeping our promises.
New biomass wood chip plant comes on line and begins to heat the Home Office, cutting heating costs in half and reducing the building’s carbon footprint to the equivalent of twelve woodstoves.
Insurance in force: $62 billion
2011
LifeChanger of the Year, a national educator award program, is introduced to honor and award thousands of K–12 teachers and school staff.
Dallas Home Office moves from Mockingbird Lane to the Millennium Tower in Addison.
Major effort to consolidate all of the many National Life logos into one. At least ten were in current use.
Former Vermont Governor James Douglas joins the Board of Directors.
2012
CEO Mehran Assadi announces new value set for the company: Do good. Be good. Make good.
Women’s Inclusion Network (WIN) is founded to encourage the professional development of women both in the field and the Home Office.
The company rolls out its first national public relations campaign in over 60 years.
2013
NLG hits a new sales record on Dec. 5 and every new sale through the end of the year sets another new record.
Massive ice storm hits Dallas.
2014
The first Do Good Fest, a benefit concert on National Life’s lawn, is held to support the Branches of Hope cancer patient fund.
2,000 solar panels are installed on four acres of National Life property off Northfield St. just south of the Home Office. The array provides 500 KW and 15% of the company’s power needs.
2015
eWeekly ends and is replaced by The Weekly.
www.NationalLifeGroup.com website goes live.
Granite sign is installed at the entrance to the complex with National Life name and logo.
Insurance in force: $93 billion
2016
CEO Mehran Assadi is featured on the cover and in the new book CAUSE! by authors Jackie and Kevin Freiberg, focused on the success of mission-driven companies.
The book focuses on the success of mission-driven companies.
“Dear World” portraits campaign launched.
Employees have words and sayings written on their bodies to illustrate their thoughts and goals in life.
National Life rolls out Main Streets Across America. The campaign highlights the company’s Main Street brand and Main Street values.
Kim Goodman and Carol A. Carlson become the second and third women to join the Board of Directors. For the first time in company history, three women sit on the board.
New record set for both life and annuity flow sales.
Company is 18th largest in the U.S. in terms of sales.
Assets: $33 billion
Insurance in force: $105 billion
Carol A. Carlson
2017
CEO Mehran Assadi announces the sale of Sentinel Asset Management to Touchstone Investments.
The Paul Sample mural, which was donated to Vermont Historical Society opens to the public at the Pavilion Building in Montpelier.
Tom MacLeay steps down as Chairman of the Board and is replaced by CEO Mehran Assadi.
2018
National Life makes the Fortune 1000 list.
National Life Group Foundation's annual budget is doubled to $2 million and Share the Good launches, matching over $250,000 in employee donations.
2019
The National Coalition for Safe Schools (NCSS) is founded by LifeChanger of the Year winners with National Life’s support.
National Life passes its goal to protect one million customers.
The 2020s
2020
National Life establishes a $20 million endowment fund for the National Life Group Foundation.
BUILD (Blacks Uplifted in Leadership Development) is established to support the Black agent community, growing 1200% in its first year.
2022
Do Good Fest returns to Vermont, and the inaugural Do Good Fest Texas is held, raising $146,000 for local nonprofits.
National Life begins the celebration of its 175th year as a financially strong and independent force for good.
National Life Group® is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company, founded in Montpelier, VT in 1848, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest, Addison, TX, chartered in 1955, and their affiliates. Each company of National Life Group is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations. Life Insurance Company of the Southwest is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York.
TC132920(0423)3
Cat No 106663(0423)