Clair Carlton Criss (10 April 1879 – 9 March 1952) was an American businessman who developed the insurance company Mutual Benefit Health and Accident Association, later to become
Mutual of Omaha
Mutual of Omaha is a Fortune 500 mutual insurance and financial services company based in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1909 as Mutual Benefit Health & Accident Association, Mutual of Omaha is a financial organization offering a variety of insuranc ...
. Under his leadership it grew from having 300 policyholders to become the largest company in the world that exclusively sold
health
Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...
and
disability insurance
Disability Insurance, often called DI or disability income insurance, or income protection, is a form of insurance that insures the beneficiary's earned income against the risk that a disability creates a barrier for completion of core work func ...
.
Early years
Clair Carlton Criss was born and raised in
Sac City, Iowa
Sac City is a city in and the county seat of Sac County, Iowa, United States, located just southwest of the eastern intersection of U.S. Routes 20 and 71 in the rolling hills along the valley of the North Raccoon River. The city is one of 45 d ...
.
He was born on 10 April 1879, son of James Lewis Criss (1846–1918) and Sevilla M. Wodell Criss (1853–1924).
He was the oldest of four children.
Mabel Leone Chambers (1881–1978) was born in
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids () is the second-largest city in Iowa, United States and is the county seat of Linn County, Iowa, Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River (Iowa River), Cedar River, north of Iowa City, Iowa, Iowa City and north ...
, and moved several times.
She went to high school in
Pender, Thurston County, Nebraska.
Clair and Mabel married in 1901 in Wayne, Nebraska.
They lived in
Bloomfield, Nebraska
Bloomfield is a city in Knox County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 1,028 at the 2010 census.
History
Bloomfield was founded in 1890. It was named for Bloomfield Dyer, the original owner of the town site.
Geography
Bloomfield is l ...
where Clair managed a clothing store owned by his father.
They had one child, Harry Mantz Criss (1902–1907).
Their son, who had always been sickly, died of a blood infection in Bloomfield.
In 1908 the Crisses moved to Omaha.
Clair studied medicine at the
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private Jesuit research university in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In 2015 the university enrolled 8,393 graduate and undergra ...
medical school and graduated in 1912.
To pay for his education he sold insurance.
Origins of Mutual Benefit
The Mutual Benefit Health and Accident Association was founded in 1909 with a charter to sell insurance in Nebraska.
By 1910 it had less than 300 insurance policies and was making few sales.
At that time Mabel Criss was working as an independent stenographer for the company, while Clair Criss was studying at Creighton University and selling health and accident policies for another company.
The founders asked Clair Criss for advice, and he told them to make their policies simpler, with broader coverage.
When they hesitated to take this advice, the Crisses offered to buy the company for $300, which was accepted.
Clair Criss completed his medical degree at Creighton University while the couple ran the insurance company.
Clair took care of sales while Mabel ran the office.
Growth
After practicing medicine for one year, Criss devoted all his energies to the company.
Clair introduced innovations that other companies did not offer.
The company sold health care policies that were not limited to fixed periods, and provided lifetime disability coverage for ordinary people.
Clair joined community organizations such as
Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben
The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation is a 501(c)(3) civic and philanthropic organization in Omaha, Nebraska.
History
The organization was formed in 1895 in an attempt to keep the Nebraska State Fair in Omaha after receiving an ultimatum to provide ...
, the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE; also often known as the Elks Lodge or simply The Elks) is an American fraternal order founded in 1868, originally as a social club in New York City.
History
The Elks began in 1868 as a soci ...
and the
Omaha Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce is the chamber of commerce in Omaha, Nebraska. When United States Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke spoke to the chamber in 2007, his comments were noted for his continued endorsement of globalization.
I ...
.
Criss was elected president of Mutual Benefit Health and Accident Association in 1933.
During his tenure Mutual Benefit became the largest company exclusively offering health and accident insurance.
United Benefit Fire Insurance Company was formed in March 1947, with Criss as president.
Criss retired on 10 April 1949.
On his retirement Criss was named chairman of Mutual Benefit and of its subsidiary United Benefit Life Insurance Company.
V. J. Skutt
Vestor Joseph Skutt (February 24, 1902 – February 23, 1993) was an American attorney who was president and chairman of Mutual of Omaha for many years.
During his tenure the company became the largest individual health insurance provider in the U ...
succeeded Criss as president of Mutual Benefit.
He renamed the company "Mutual of Omaha".
Criss died at home in Omaha of a heart attack on 9 March 1952 after three years of poor health.
He was chairman of the boards of directors of Campanion Companies, Mutual Benefit and United Benefit.
Legacy
Criss was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Omaha.
After his death Mabel donated $7 million that, supplemented by federal grants and loans, was used to develop the Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Health Sciences Center at
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private Jesuit research university in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In 2015 the university enrolled 8,393 graduate and undergra ...
The Criss's are also remembered by their names on the
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
The Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library is a library on the campus of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO). The library serves as the primary source of academic research information for the UNO community through ...
at the
University of Nebraska Omaha
The University of Nebraska Omaha (Omaha or UNO) is a public research university in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1908 by faculty from the Omaha Presbyterian Theological Seminary as a private non-sectarian college, the university was originally kno ...
and a seminar center in the
University of Nebraska Medical Center
The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) is a public academic health science center in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1869 and chartered as a private medical college in 1881, UNMC became part of the University of Nebraska System in 1902. R ...
's Durham Research Center.
The Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Memorial Foundation is active and makes grants, but avoids publicity.
Notes
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Criss, Clair Carlton
1879 births
1952 deaths
Businesspeople from Omaha, Nebraska