NAIFA and NAIFA-Texas are proud to announce that John M. Ruckel, LUTCF, a Financial Professional with MassMutual and owner of Ruckel Insurance and Financial Group in Nacogdoches, Texas, is the 2024 recipient of NAIFA’s Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award.

Ruckel, a loyal member since 1969, was NAIFA’s National President in 1999-2000. He had previously served on NAIFA’s National Board of Trustees and as NAIFA-Texas’s President in 1987-1988. He was also President of NAIFA-Pineywoods of East Texas and a member of the LIFE Foundation (Life Happens) Board of Directors. 

In addition to being recognized at the national level, John Ruckel is a previous recipient of the NAIFA-Texas Bruce Murray Tall Texan Award in 2005, which is presented to members that have demonstrated significant PAC involvement, political involvement, and local participation.

In 2023, NAIFA-Texas distinguished John by renaming our most esteemed award in his honor, the NAIFA-Texas John M. Ruckel Lifetime Achievement Award, which John received in 2007.

Ruckel currently serves on the Board of Directors of NAIFA-Pineywoods of East Texas and on the NAIFA-Texas Government Affairs, Awards, and Governance Committees. He is a NAIFA advocacy Key Contact for members of Congress, including Senator John Cornyn and Representatives Pete Sessions, Brian Babin, Lance Gooden, and Tony Gonzales, and state lawmakers, including Senator Robert Nichols and Representatives Travis Clardy and Trent Ashby.

A platinum-level lifetime supporter of NAIFA’s IFAPAC political action committee, Ruckel ranks as the leading lifetime contributor to the Texas NAIFAPAC. He has worked on numerous political campaigns, including as District Chairman for former Senator John Tower, Finance Committee member and Surrogate Speaker for former Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, and Regional Chairman and Finance Committee member for Senator Cornyn. He has attended every regular session of the Texas Legislature since 1971.

“The name John Ruckel is synonymous with NAIFA advocacy in Texas,” said NAIFA President Tom Cothron, LUTCF, FSCP. “His dedication to working at both the state and federal levels on behalf of insurance and financial professionals and the consumers they serve is unmatched. He is a trusted resource of numerous lawmakers whose efforts in Austin and Washington are decisive on issues important to NAIFA and our members. He has also proven through the years to be a selfless contributor to IFAPAC. I am very pleased to congratulate John as the very deserving 2024 recipient of NAIFA’s Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award.”

Ruckel will receive the award at NAIFA’s National Leadership Conference and Belong awards celebration at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, on September 21. The NLC and Belong, this year combined with NAIFA’s signature Apex sales conference, recognizes and celebrates NAIFA’s volunteer leaders and outstanding award recipients.

The Terry Headley Lifetime Defender Award recognizes a current NAIFA member who shows exemplary service to their profession, colleagues, and clients through their political advocacy and contributions to IFAPAC. NAIFA is the leading advocacy association for producers in the insurance and financial services industry, working for positive legislative and regulatory outcomes at the federal, interstate, and state levels. NAIFAPAC is a leading insurance political action committee with associated PACs in every state supporting selected candidates for legislative office. Participation in advocacy initiatives is one of the ways that association members are “good NAIFA citizens.”

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 and Co-Commander-in-Chief.