David A. Stonecipher: Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award,
Georgia State University
"Honor, Truth and Duty...I've found over the years that the more I've reflected on those words when I was facing tough situations, the more helpful that particular credo was."

Following his service in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1964, David Stonecipher joined Life of Georgia Insurance as an actuarial trainee.  Twenty years later he was executive vice-president.  He went on to become CEO of both Life of Georgia and Southland Life Insurance Co.  In 1992, he joined Jefferson-Pilot as CEO-elect.  The following year he was elected to the board of directors and became president and chief operating officer of both Jefferson-Pilot Corp. and Jefferson-Pilot Life Insurance Co.  Now retired, he admits he misses the camaraderie and the challenges, but stays busy as a member of the Greensboro, N.C., United Way serving as a board member.

What's your fondest memory from your student days at Georgia State?

The classes, the teachers and the interactivity.  I have fond memories of Dr. Eli Zubay.  I was in the business school as a graduate student when I started in the late '60s, and I have very fond memories of him as an educator and the fun I had in his classes.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

Running Jefferson Pilot, a Fortune 500 company.  I really enjoyed working with my team, the camaraderie, the fun of attacking goals and challenges, and meeting those challenges - the interactivity with the people.  And now that I'm retired, I certainly miss that the most.

Do you have a personal philosophy that's helped you be successful?

My career lasted 43 years, so all along the way I was always learning, looking forward and studying ways people accomplished objectives.  And you learn from mistakes.  When I was in high school at the McCallie School in Chattanooga (Tenn.), it had a motto; and as a young kid, I think that credo was impressed on me: Honor, Truth and Duty.  Those three words, simply, was always something that I've strived for.  I've found over the years that the more I've reflected on those words when I was facing tough situations, the more helpful that particular credo was.

This article was published in the summer 2007 issue of Georgia State Magazine

David A. Stonecipher,
FSA, M.A.S. '67
Retired President and Chief Operating Officer,
Jefferson-Pilot Corp.
(Above: VP for External Affairs Tom Lewis presents the award to Stonecipher.)