The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-08-13
THE NATIONAL LIFE AND ITS
PRESIDENT

The Insurance Monthly for July
/ contains strong, just and apprecia-
tive article on the foregoing subject
In an extremely interesting way the
writer, Mr.. Henry H. Putnam, tells
the story of 1.-The country school
| teacher who became chief executive
of big life insurance company
With the incidents of 1.-The coun-
try school teachers life" and how
he laid down the rod to take up the
actuarys pencil, the people of the
Green Mountain village, packed in
between high hills are pleasantly
familiar, but the story was never so
fully and aptly told in print
Mr.. Putnam's Characterization of
Mr.. DeBoer his home friends will
recognize as entirely truthful, as it
is always felicitous, strong and ex-
pressive in phrasing, without descend
ing to or suggesting fiattery. Especi-
ally interesting is the story of Mr..
DeBoer's appearance before the
directorate of the National Life in
response to its summons, TO be told
that he had been picked for investi-
ture with the duties and fundamental
responsibilities of actuary of the
company, and the surprised reply that
he knew nothing of actuarial science,
and, indeed Ibid not even know
what an actuary was. " 1t was much
to the credit of the directors and a
striking illustration of the accuracy
and clearness of their powers of dis
cernment, as the Journal has observed
in writing of Mr.. DeBoer's connection
with this company, that they knew
the raw material for a good actuary
when they saw it; but probably
these officials were themselves some
what surprised at the full develop
ment of their find when, not so very
long after his appointment, this nov
ice in its science and practice was Civ
ing them points not only in his depart
ment but on the general subject Of
life insurance. And it followed las
the day the night that promotion
came to the school master-and was
rapid-even to the office of chief ex-
ecutive of the company whose direct
ors, thirteen years before, had
"drafted' him into the ranks of its
official corps.
OF the progress of the National
Life Insurance Company since in 1889
Mr.. DeBoer entered its service MI
Putnam says;
Since 1889, when Mr.. DeBoer was
appointed actuary of the company,
its assets have increased from 50, 900,
600 to $23, 600, 600; its insurance in
force from $3.50, 600, 600 to $1O9, 600, 600 ;
it's total income from 81, $50, 900 to s.,
30S, 600. This is gain in thirteen
years of nearly three hundred per
cent in assets, and about two hundred
per cent in insurance in force, and in
income
A great share of this gain is due to
Mr. DeBoers underwriting manage
ment. He helped to lift the company
out of a state of unprogressive con-
servatism on to plane of the most
modern business practices, and has in
troduced and inaugurated some OF
the most important changes known to
American life underwriters. Reared
in an atmosphere of conservatism,
which to many might seem provincial,
Mr.. DeBoer has, nevertheless, been
able to obtain broad and cosmopoli.
tan view of the life insurance situa,
ton. His mind has risen above his
local surroundings, he has placed him
self in touch with the full current OF
modern underwriting thought, and
indeed, has looked further into the
future possibilities of life insurance
in America than many underwater
who have had larger opportunities fol
study and observation.
The company of which he is nov
4 the head is growing rapidly, is finan
Z cially strong, well Differed in ever,
department by men who are in clos,
/ sympathy and full accord with TIN
\ president, who himself understand
and comprehends the detailed need
4 of the business in every department.
n has we'll equipped agency force, an
has recently undergone the mos
Z searching examination which coul,
] be imposed upon any life insuranc
4 corporation, from which il emerge
7 with results satisfying to the mos
J exacting critic.
J The National Life is undoubtedl
\ destined to become, under the pres
emit administration, one of the mos
successful companies in the countr
4 from the standpoint of benefit I