The Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award recognizes a current NAIFA member who shows exemplary service to their professional, colleagues, and clients through their political advocacy and contributions to IFAPAC.

Nominees for NAIFA's Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award should be current NAIFA members who exhibit Headley's commitment to advancing the legislative agendas of agents, advisors, and their clients. To nominate members, please submit the nominee’s name, chapter, a listing of all leadership positions they have held (advocacy positions will hold more weight in the decision-making progress), and all state legislators for whom the nominee is a contact. Include a statement with a description as to why this person is worthy of receiving the award.

Award Namesake

Former NAIFA President Terry Headley, LUTCF, LIC, FSS, had a long, distinguished record of service to NAIFA. He was recognized as a key NAIFA contact for multiple members of the Nebraska Congressional delegation and state legislators over the years. Headley served in leadership roles at the local, state, and national levels. He was also an IFAPAC Capitol Defender. Headley and former NAIFA President Robert Miller, M.A., M.S., were known as “IFAPAC Co-Commanders in Chief” based on their IFAPAC lifetime giving. Headley was the first recipient of the Lifetime Defender Award in 2021. The award was named in his honor in 2022. 

He was inducted into the NAIFA-Omaha Hall of Fame and received the NAIFA-Nebraska Distinguished Service Award. In 2020, he was honored with the John Newton Russell Memorial Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a living individual in the life insurance and financial services industry.

Past Recipients