Jefferson-Pilot Corp history

In 1905, a group of Fort Wayne business leaders came together to create a life insurance company based on dependability, honesty and service.

1907 Jefferson Standard Life Insurance founded in Raleigh, North Carolina

The 1912 mergers brought Jefferson Standard's total base of assets to a stunning $3.6 million and its total insurance in force to more than $37 million.

Notwithstanding setbacks experienced during World War I, Jefferson Standard realized its greatest year ever in 1918, when it boosted sales more than 50 percent and extended its operations into a total of 14 southern states.

Julian Price, former secretary of Greensboro Life Insurance Company, became the president of Jefferson Standard in 1919.

As if to stake its claim on the future of the life insurance industry, Jefferson Standard erected a 17-story "skyscraper" in the early 1920s.

In 1922, Price and the board of directors began building the new Jefferson Standard headquarters in downtown Greensboro.

Although the project was considered bold and nervy, particularly in a town of only 19,000 people, the marble-laden complex was completed in 1923 and was completely paid for before its doors were opened.

“The Hoosier Youth,” celebrated heroic bronze sculpture by Paul Manship, takes shape, 1932

Joseph M. Bryan, the husband of Julian Price’s daughter Kathleen, was elected secretary of Jefferson Pilot in 1933.

One shows the agents and their wives, and the other, taken in 1941, shows a thirtieth anniversary celebration for the company.

Julian Price retired in 1944 and died in a car accident two years later.

Holderness left Jefferson in 1945 and formed his own successful company before returning as president of Jefferson Standard.

Price was succeeded as president of Jefferson Standard by his son, Ralph Clay Price, in 1946.

Jefferson Standard and Pilot Life continued their successes through the first half of the twentieth century, with Jefferson Standard reaching $1 billion of insurance in force by 1951.

The April 1955 newsletter was incorporated from the N.C. Vertical File at UNCG Libraries.

Just a few years later, in 1960, that figure had risen to $2 billion.

Faster Growth, Greater Diversification: 1967--92

1969 Lincoln National Corporation begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange and the Midwest Stock Exchange.

1973 Oil crisis begins

By 1976, Jefferson-Pilot had more than $5 billion of insurance in force, reflecting rapid growth since Soles' selection as president.

1987 Lincoln introduces MoneyGuard®, the first of its kind: an innovative universal life insurance product with a long-term care benefit rider.

By 1989, Jefferson-Pilot had increased its life insurance in force to $37 billion, more than six times the amount of in-force insurance just ten years earlier.

During his last two years as president, Soles oversaw healthy income and profit gains; revenues rose to $1.20 billion in 1992 as net income rose an impressive 48 percent in three years to $195 million.

In 1995, he initiated a rapid-growth phase by purchasing the insurance in force from Kentucky Central Life and Alexander Hamilton Life.

While the company had traditionally sold its products through approximately 1,000 of its own agents, by 1997, more than 17,000 independent agents were offering Jefferson-Pilot insurance in all 50 states.

By the end of 1998, Jefferson-Pilot was the nation's third largest provider of universal life insurance policies.

2001 Lincoln Financial Distributors is formed as the wholesaling distribution organization of Lincoln Financial Group.

2002 Lincoln Financial Group acquires the naming rights to the Philadelphia Eagles' new stadium, Lincoln Financial Field.

2005 Lincoln Financial Group celebrates its 100th anniversary Lincoln Financial Group named one of the 100 best companies to work for 19 out of 20 years by Working Mother magazine .

2008 Marking Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday, Lincoln Financial Group donates the Lincoln Museum Collection valued at over $20 million to the state of Indiana.