Attending the charter convention of the newly formed NAHU in 1930 were delegates from Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle. Local associations in these cities were the pioneers. Featured as speakers at the charter convention were six Accident and Health men who, in the ensuing years, did much to raise the stature and prestige of the Accident and Health business. They were Harold R. Gordon, then Executive Secretary of the Health and Accident Underwriters Conference and later its managing director; C. O. Pauley, then Secretary of the Great Northern Life, Chicago, who later succeeded Mr. Gordon as head of the Conference following the latter’s untimely death; E. H. “Count” Mueller, who was elected head of the association in June, 1933; Armand Sommer, who served as its President in 1935; E. C. Budlong, then Vice President of Federal Life of Chicago, and Sam C. Carroll, then Vice President of Mutual Benefit Health and Accident Association, Omaha, whose company over the years has been one of the most active supporters of the national movement.

According to press accounts of the first meeting, the speakers expressed courageous optimism as to the National Association’s future. Their firm conviction was that it was destined to occupy a place in the insurance business just as important as that of the National Association of Life Underwriters, Health and Accident Underwriters Conference, and American Medical Association in the medical field. “The high ideals of these organizations were the patterns that we sought to emulate,” said “Count” Mueller, whose devotion is just as strong today as it was 75 years ago.  NAHU HISTORY