NU Online News Service, Oct. 29, 11:55 a.m.EDT

Columbus, Ohio--based insurer Nationwide said its former generalchairman and chief executive officer Dean W. Jeffers has died atthe age 94.

Nationwide said Mr. Jeffers held the post of general chairmanand chief executive officer from 1972 to 1981. Under his tenure thecompany tripled its assets and extended operations.

A well-known business leader admired in the insurance industryand the community, Nationwide said Mr. Jeffers left an indelible mark onthe city of Columbus through his efforts to revitalize downtown,including the construction of Nationwide's world headquarters.

"The central Ohio community and the Nationwide family lost oneof our finest leaders today," said Nationwide CEO Steve Rasmussenin a statement. "His leadership enabled Nationwide to grow into thegreat company it is today and his values set a course for thiscompany's commitment to the communities we live in and the peoplewe employ."

Mr. Jeffers was born Sept. 7, 1916, near Woodsfield, Ohio. Heheld a bachelor's degree in education from Ohio University and healso attended Western Reserve University.

After marrying his wife of 52 years, Ruthe Workman, andbeginning his career as a teacher, he started selling autoinsurance in 1940 as a part-time agent for Farm Bureau MutualAutomobile Insurance Company (which was renamed Nationwide in1955). He worked his way up through the company with variouspositions in claims, actuarial, underwriting, marketing and fieldoperations.

He was named vice president of sales in 1956, a job he held formore than a dozen years. Mr. Jeffers was named vice president ofmarketing in 1964. He was named Nationwide's president and generalmanager in 1969.

Nationwide noted that he was particularly proud of his salesrole, adding, "Nothing happens before you make a sale." He wasoften referred to as "Nationwide's Number One Salesman."

After taking the helm as CEO, Mr. Jeffers made the decision tobuild the new Nationwide headquarters in what was then a blightedarea of north downtown, near the Ohio Penitentiary and across thestreet from the current headquarters.

Mr. Jeffers believed Nationwide could make a major contributionto the growth of Columbus by building downtown and revitalizing the area. His decision to create the $80 millionOne Nationwide Plaza served as a catalyst for a rebirth and led tothe development of some major city buildings including theNationwide Arena.

A distinguished leader and spokesman for the insurance industry,Mr. Jeffers served as a director of the American Council of LifeInsurance (ACLI) and chaired the ACLI Committee on Economic Policy.He was a director and chairman of the Health Insurance Associationof America, and a member of the Property-Casualty InsuranceCouncil.

Mr. Jeffers was committed to community service and served aschairman or board member on a number of community organizations andreceived many honors for this contribution. He also served on theboards of a number of companies.

Mr. Jeffers is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Dr.Phillip Dean Jeffers, and Kelsey Jeffers; sister, Nina Yoss ofWoodsfield, Ohio; one niece and two nephews; five grandchildren;and six great-grandchildren.

According to Highline Data, a Summit Business MediaCompany that also owns National Underwriter,Nationwide Insurance Group is the eighth largest property andcasualty insurer in the United States.