Safeco's Kelly Waller: Boy Scout And Gentleman

Kelly Waller, a founder of Safeco Life Insurance and a former Seafair King Neptune, was a lifetime Boy Scout.

Not only did the tall, slim Texas native and Eagle Scout go out of his way to help people and chair United Way drives, he kept his boyish enthusiasm and gentlemanly ways.

Clients and loved ones routinely got a yellow rose for important anniversaries. And everyone with whom he corresponded got signatures or handwritten notes in green ink - a nod to his Irish ancestors.

"When he started Safeco Life Insurance he began to write with green ink," said his wife of 49 years, Phyllis Waller of Seattle. "He said it was the color of money, and Safeco was going to be successful."

His wit endeared him to the public. In 1967, when Seafair Prime Minister and popular Husky coach Jim Owens got more notice than he did as King Neptune XVIII in white-and-gold regalia, Mr. Waller told the press, "It's traumatic to be King of Seafair and have no one notice you."

Mr. Waller died of a stroke Thursday (Aug. 6). He was 83.

"He was totally full of life, wore green ties, and used to hand out little shamrock plants on St. Patrick's day," said his daughter, Ceneth (Cindi) Schoettler of Seattle.

"He was just so thoughtful. Mom was going to play in a golf tournament one day and he asked if there was a way he could help. She said she played better when she drank milkshakes. Here he was, a busy executive, and he figured out a way to have a man in a golf cart deliver a milkshake to her at the tee."

Born to the owners of General Life Insurance in McKinney, Texas, near Dallas, Mr. Waller earned 86 Boy Scout merit badges.

He attended Southern Methodist University two years, then returned to McKinney to enter business with his father. He subsequently joined General Insurance in Dallas.

In 1941 he was sent to Spokane to open offices for General. But with the outbreak of World War II, he joined the Army and flew gliders in Europe.

After the war, he served as an executive with General, working first in Seattle, then in Dallas. But the company soon sent him back to Seattle to start a life-insurance company. That company became Safeco Life, now a division of Safeco Corp. He became president, chairman and chief executive officer.

"After he retired in 1980, he went on to practice what he preached, and sold life insurance for a private agency," said his son, Kevin Waller of Mill Creek.

Mr. Waller belonged to many civic groups including Rotary Club of Seattle and the Junior Chamber of Commerce. The latter named him "Young Man of the Year" in 1950.

In 1953, the Committee for Seattle's Future named him a "Newsmaker of Tomorrow."

An opponent of nationalized health care, he served as president of the Health Insurance Association of America. He also was a past president of Seattle Rotary, a past president of Seattle Golf Club, and one of Time magazine's "Seattle Newsmakers of Tomorrow" in 1978.

Services will be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Seattle Golf Club, 210 N.W. 145th St., Seattle.

Remembrances may go to Boy Scouts of America, 3120 Rainier Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98144; or to Seattle Rotary Boys and Girls Club, 1118 Financial Center, Seattle.

Two grandchildren also survive.

Carole Beers' phone message number is 206-464-2391. Her e-mail address is cbeers@seattletimes.com