It is with great sadness that NAIFA shares news of the passing of Past President Richard A. Koob, AEP, CASL, ChFC, CLU, who passed away at his home in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Sunday. He led NAIFA as the association’s national President during the 2002-2003 term and served as the Life Happens Board Chair in 2008. 

Dick Koob began his career as a student-agent with Northwestern Mutual in 1967 and joined NAIFA on his first day on the job. He later became a full-time agent, transferred to the Northwestern Mutual home office to serve as a recruiter, and then returned to the field as a senior financial representative. He received the NAIFA Quality Award for 40 consecutive years and qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table over a similar span. He held more than 75 positions on numerous MDRT committees, including chair of five committees and Divisional Vice President twice.

He was the President of NAIFA-Waukesha for 1979-1980 and NAIFA-Wisconsin for 1987-1988. He joined the NAIFA-National Board of Trustees in 1996 and was elected Secretary in 2000. As NAIFA President, he formed and led NAIFA’s 2002 Transformation Task Force, which developed a strategic plan focused on delivering legislative advocacy and bottom-line benefits for NAIFA members. Koob was politically involved and active. He chaired the NAIFA-Wisconsin Committee on Political Action for many years and ranked as an IFAPAC Two-Star General based on his lifetime contribution total. He served on Rep. Paul Ryan’s Financial Services and Insurance Advisory Board.

In 2013 at NAIFA’s annual conference in San Antonio, Koob received the John Newton Russell Memorial Award, the insurance and financial service industry’s highest and most prestigious honor.   

“Dick Koob was a strong leader who loved NAIFA and the industry it serves," said NAIFA COO Michael Gerber, who was a member of the NAIFA staff during Koob's presidency. "He called upon NAIFA members to support their professional association with active engagement, by reminding them that 'the best ideas in the world won't work, if you don't.'"

Koob studied at Loras College and Oklahoma City University and was a veteran of the United States Army. In his community, he served on the Insurance Committee of the Waukesha Area Chamber of Commerce and the Salvation Army Advisory Board. He was trustee-treasurer of St. Mary Catholic Church.

NAIFA sends our sincere condolences to Dick’s family and friends, including his wife Judy and children Kimberly, Melissa, and Christopher.