Benjamin N. "Woody" Woodson (June 5, 1908–July 17, 2001), born in

Altoona, Kansas Altoona is a city in Wilson County, Kansas, United States, along the Verdigris River. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 354. History Altoona was originally called Geddesburg when it was founded in 1869. It was renamed Al ...

, was an insurance executive and philanthropist who was known as "Mr. Life Insurance."Benjamin Woodson obituary
from the Houston Chronicle Woodson's parents moved often, and he graduated from high school in

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the List of cities in Nebraska, most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States along the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's List of United S ...

. He then worked for

Union Pacific The Union Pacific Railroad is a Class I freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second largest railroad in the United States after BNSF, ...

and excelled as a typist, which led to a position as a stenographer and agent at Bankers Reserve Life Insurance company in Omaha. By 1928 he moved to

Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

to work for Mutual Trust Life Insurance Company, where he eventually became a regional director. His success was noticed by American General Corporation's CEO Gus Sessions Wortham who brought Woodson to Houston, Texas to assume the role of President of the corporation. In 1972, Woodson succeeded Wortham as CEO, a position he held until his retirement in 1978. He was the author of several books including ''More Power to You'' (1950), ''The Set of the Sail'' (1968), ''A Financial Services Supermarket: The American General Story'' (1974), and ''Simple Truth'' (1980).Benjamin N. Woodson titles
from Worldcat In the Houston community, Woodson served as regent at the

University of Houston The University of Houston (; ) is a Public university, public research university in Houston, Texas, United States. It was established in 1927 as Houston Junior College, a coeducational institution and one of multiple junior colleges formed in ...

, director of the Society for the Performing Arts, chairman of the Houston Chamber of Commerce, was on the Board of Governors at

Rice University William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University, is a Private university, private research university in Houston, Houston, Texas, United States. Established in 1912, the university spans 300 acres. Rice University comp ...

, and also made significant financial contributions to Rice. The

Woodson Research Center Woodson Research Center is an archive located in Fondren Library at Rice University in Houston, Texas. The Center is named for Benjamin N. Woodson and houses the special collections of Rice University's Fondren Library which includes manuscript c ...

Houston, Texas Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

is named in his honor.

External links

Guide to the Benjamin N. Woodson business diaries, 1954-1979
Woodson Research Center

Texas Medical Center News, August 1, 2001

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Woodson, Benjamin N. 1908 births 2001 deaths People from Altoona, Kansas University of Houston people Rice University people