About John Newton Russell Memorial Award History

The John Newton Russell Legacy:
Outstanding Character, Dedication to the
Profession, Meritorious Service

The 2026 nomination process is open from March 15th – June 30th.

Do you know anyone who possesses these outstanding qualities? If you do, now is the time to submit his or her name for the John Newton Russell Memorial Award. This is the industry’s highest honor.

About the John Newton Russell Award

In 1945, John Henry Russell provided the original endowment to establish this prestigious award to honor his father, John Newton Russell. A staunch proponent of informed, ethical marketing practices, Russell was agency manager for Pacific Mutual. He served as president of NALU (now NAIFA) during World War I and was one of the incorporators of The American College of Life Underwriters. His high standards are perpetuated in this award, which seeks to recognize someone with outstanding personal qualities, unstinting loyalty to the business and exemplary leadership.

The John Newton Russell Memorial Award was first conferred at NAIFA’s (then NALU) annual convention in 1947. Because of the war, the award was given to five outstanding members of the field. Each year since the selection committee has strived to honor an exemplary agent or advisor who represents the best of the industry.

Eligibility requirements

The award program is open to anyone you believe is highly qualified, and exhibits the character, leadership qualities, contributions to the profession and American families exemplified by John Newton Russell. Any member of a NAIFA local association is eligible to nominate a worthy candidate. Nominees must be insurance and/or financial services professionals. Standards for consideration are extraordinarily high. The characteristics of past recipients have included unwavering loyalty and a high level of professional accomplishment and community service.

How to apply

When you send in your nomination, provide the award selection committee with sufficient information about your nominee and explain the basis for putting forward the person you chose. Nominations will be accepted through June 30, 2026. Your nomination contains the only information the selection committee will have as a basis for their decision, so please be thorough in your description.

The 2026 recipient will be announced in September and will be honored at the Belong Luncheon in conjunction with the Protectors Powered by NAIFA event on November 9, 2026 at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, NV.

Membership in your local association is required for participation in the award program.

2025 John Newton Russell Memorial Award Recipient
Robert A. Miller, MA, MS

As NAIFA President for the 2011–2012 association year, Robert Miller was an early advocate of modernizing NAIFA’s structure and governance. His ideas foreshadowed the highly successful NAIFA 20/20 strategic plan implemented in 2015. He pushed for a more streamlined NAIFA governance structure, a consistent membership model, and uniform branding and messaging across NAIFA’s chapters. He convened a Presidential Blue Ribbon Task Force to explore these issues, and many of the Task Force’s findings contributed to the formulation of the NAIFA 20/20 plan.

He represented NAIFA as a media spokesperson, sitting for interviews with The Wall Street Journal, InvestmentNews, Think Advisor, InsuranceNewsNet, and other outlets to explain NAIFA’s vital role representing the interests of financial professionals and the consumers they serve. He led NAIFA’s successful efforts to oppose an overly restrictive Department of Labor fiduciary rule for financial professionals and to educate the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as it shaped a regulation requiring advisors to act in clients’ best interests. He has testified multiple times on behalf of NAIFA and his fellow financial professionals before congressional committees, the SEC, and other government bodies. Learn more about Robert Miller.

Tributes to Robert Miller

"On behalf of The American College of Financial Services, I want to congratulate Robert Miller on being selected as the John Newton Russel Memorial Award recipient presented by NAIFA. What a great recognition for someone who has been a statesman and champion for NAIFA and the industry at large. Robert has had a very distinguished career and all who know him acknowledge his achievements. The greatest thing about him is his loyalty to friends and support to lift up our profession."

— George Nichols, President and CEO of The American College

"Over many years as an executive in the insurance industry, I have had the honor of personally knowing many of the John Newton Russell award winners. I am thrilled to see that my friend Robert Miller is this year's recipient. Before, during and after he served as the NAIFA president, he has had a truly profound impact on the organization and on its long-term sustainability. I worked closely with Robert before he was the President of NAIFA as we often strategized about the future of NAIFA. I would add that his passion for the industry and for NAIFA have only been exceeded by his commitment to his family and his clients. My heartfelt congratulations to a very deserving John Newton Russell Memorial Award winner!"

— Fred Sievert, Retired President of New York Life Insurance Company

[fa icon="plus-square"] John Newton Russell Past Recipients

2024 Matthew Tassey, CLU, ChFC, LUTCF
2023 Joseph P. Jordan
2022 Harry P. Hoopis, CLU, ChFC
2021 Robelyn Abadie, LUTCF, RFC, CAP
2020 Terry Headley, LUTCF, LIC, FSS*
2019 Guy Baker, CLU, MSFS
2018 Reginald N. Rabjohns, CLU, ChFC
2017 Joseph M. Belth, CLU
2016 D. Scott Brennan
2015 Peter C. Browne, LUTCF*
2014 Sy Sternberg
2013 Richard Koob, CLU, ChFC, AEP
2012 Brian H. Ashe, CLU
2011 Marvin H. Feldman, CLU, ChFC
2010 Michael C. Keenan, CLU, ChFC
2009 Larry Lambert
2008 Allan G. Hancock
2007 Phillip C. Richards
2006 James M. Benson
2005 Charles A. Smith
2004 M. Jack Peckinpaugh
2003 Robert B. Plybon
2002 O. Alfred Granum*
2001 H. Kirke Lewis*
2000 Jack B. Turner
1999 Kenneth Black*
1998 Bernard H.“Buddy” Zais, CLU*
1997 David F. Woods, CLU
1996 Millard J. Grauer, CLU*
1995 William B. Wallace, CLU
1994 Robert W. Verhille, CLU
1993 Vincent Bowhers, CLU*
1992 Richard Schweiker*
1991 Alan Press, CLU
1990 William V. Regan II, CLU
1989 Ernest E. Cragg, CLU*
1988 Stanley Liss, CLU*
1987 Denis F. Mullane, CLU*
1986 Norman G. Levine, CLU*
1985 Jack E. Bobo, CLU
1984 Ben Feldman, CLU*
1983 Robert A. Beck, CLU*

1982 Thomas J. Wolff, CLU*
1981 James B. Irvine, CLU*
1980 George G. Joseph, CLU*
1979 Bernard S. Rosen, CLU*
1978 Ellen M. Putnam, CLU*
1977 J. Henry Smith*
1976 Burkett A. Huey*
1975 Lester A. Rosen, CLU*
1974 Blake T. Newton, Jr.*
1973 Frank E. Sullivan, CLU*
1972 Ron Stever, CLU*
1971 Robert L. Woods, CLU*
1970 C. Carney Smith, CLU*
1969 John O. Todd*
1968 Orville Beal, CLU*
1967 R. L. Mcmillon*
1966 Charles H. Schaaff, CLU*
1965 Isaac S. Kibrick*
1964 Roger Hull*
1963 Benjamin N. Woodson, CLU*
1962 William H. Andrews, Jr.*
1961 Davis W. Gregg, CLU*
1960 Cecil J. North*
1959 Claris Adams*
1958 Lester O. Schriver*
1957 Hugh S. Bell, CLU*
1956 Griffin M. Lovelace*
1955 Charles E. Cleeton*
1954 Vincent B. Coffin, CLU*
1953 C.V. Anderson, CLU*
1952 Grant Taggart*
1951 Charles Zimmerman, CLU*
1950 O. Sam Cummings*
1949 J. Marshall Holcombe, Jr.*
1948 Frederick H. Eckler*
1947 Holgar J. Johnson*
1946 M. Albert Linton*
1945 Paul F. Clark, CLU*
1944 J. Stanley Edwards*
1943 Julian S. Myrick*
1942 Solomon S. Huebner*

*Deceased