1899
1900
50th anniversary
Company celebrates its 50th anniversary. 100 top agents are invited to the Home Office.
1901
James C. Houghton is elected President
James C. Houghton is elected President.
1902
Actuary Joseph A. DeBoer is elected President
Actuary Joseph A. DeBoer is elected President.
1903
National Life owns Waterbury Opera House
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.
Early paper tester and seal punch
1905
The first use of “of Vermont”
The first use of “of Vermont” appears on the annual report.
1916
Attorney Fred A. Howland is elected President
Attorney Fred A. Howland is elected President.
1917
World War I
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
More than $1 million in claims
The company pays more than $1 million in claims during the Spanish influenza epidemic of 1918–19 while also paying World War I claims.
War clauses discontinued — company pays out on 131 lives with 61 having been Killed In Action.
Previous Agent Association revived as the General Agent Association.
1919
Ellen Putnam contracted as an agent
Ellen Putnam, one of the company’s earliest female agents is contracted as an agent with Rochester Agency #036. Prior to her death at age 95 on February 27, 1989, she took the largest application of her career.
1920
Office lightning strike
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.
Early rubber stamps
1922
Sixth Home Office building
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
Life Insurance Company of the Southwest founded
The concept of Coleman Mutual Aid Association is created in Coleman, Texas in 1923, 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.