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Leadership

Kansas City Life Insurance Company exists to provide present and future financial security to its policyholders and their families. Since 1895, the Company has delivered on that promise of Security Assured. Generations have trusted Kansas City Life, so it’s no surprise that four generations of the Bixby family have served as president of the Company. Along with the senior officers, this leadership team continues to hold true to the traditions of honesty, integrity and sound business practices upon which the Company was founded more than a century ago.



Kansas City Life’s Senior Officers & Board of Directors

  • Walter E. Bixby, LLIF

    President, Chief Executive Officer, and Vice Chairman of the Board, Kansas City Life Insurance Company; President, Old American Insurance Company; President and Chief Executive Officer, Grange Life Insurance Company

    Walter E. “Web” Bixby has been a Director of the Company since 1996. Mr. Bixby is President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board for Kansas City Life; President of Old American Insurance Company; and President and Chief Executive Officer of Grange Life Insurance Company. He was elected Assistant Vice President of the Company in 1985; Vice President, Marketing in 1990; Vice President, Marketing Operations in 1992; President of Old American in 1996, Executive Vice President in 2012, Chief Executive Officer of Grange Life in 2018, and President and Chief Executive Officer of Kansas City Life and President of Grange Life in 2022.


    Mr. Bixby is a fourth-generation member of the Bixby family and brother of R. Philip Bixby, Chairman of the Board. He also serves as a Director of Old American Insurance Company, Grange Life Insurance Company, and Sunset Financial Services, subsidiaries. The Bixby family has led the Company since 1904 and Mr. Bixby has worked in various roles during his 40 years with the Company.


    Mr. Bixby holds a bachelor’s degree in Business from Columbia College.

  • Donald E. Krebs, MSM, CLU, ChFC, LLIF

    Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing

    Don Krebs was appointed to Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Kansas City Life Insurance Company in 2004. Mr. Krebs first joined the Company in 1996 as a Regional Vice President of the Midwest Region. After four years, he was promoted to Vice President, Agency Marketing. This position allowed him to manage all distribution and individual sales for Kansas City Life Insurance Company.


    Mr. Krebs has more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry and is a member of GAMA International and NAIFA.


    He holds a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Illinois State University and a master’s degree in Management from The American College.

  • A. Craig Mason Jr.

    Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

    Craig Mason was appointed Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Kansas City Life Insurance Company’s Legal Department in February 2013.


    Mr. Mason first joined the Company in October 2006 as Assistant Counsel. In 2010, he was promoted to Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary.


    Mr. Mason is responsible for all legal matters involving the Company and its various subsidiaries. He also serves as Secretary and Board Member for the Company’s broker/dealer subsidiary, Sunset Financial Services Inc.


    Mr. Mason has 26 years of experience in the insurance industry. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity University in San Antonio.

  • Mark A. Milton, FSA, CERA

    Senior Vice President and Actuary

    Mark Milton has been a Director of the Company since 2009. Mr. Milton is currently the Senior Vice President and Actuary. He joined the Company in 1982 and was elected Assistant Actuary in 1984; Assistant Vice President Associate Actuary in 1987; Vice President Associate Actuary in 1989; Vice President and Actuary in 2000 and to his present position in 2001. Mr. Milton is also a Director of Old American Insurance Company, subsidiaries.


    Mr. Milton is responsible for individual life and annuity product development and valuation for Kansas City Life and subsidiaries as well as the group division, profitability analysis and projections, asset-liability management, agency compensation, reinsurance, acquisition strategy and related topics. He possesses significant actuarial expertise, providing a knowledge base for corporate products and expertise in analyzing industry trends.


    Mr. Milton has a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Newman University and a master’s degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Nebraska.

  • Stephen E. Ropp

    Senior Vice President, Operations

    Steve Ropp was elected Vice President, Operations Services in 2005; Vice President, Insurance Services in 2011; Vice President, Operation in 2013; and to his present position in 2015.


    Mr. Ropp is responsible for the Company’s Information Technology, Customer Services, Claims, Agency Administration, New Business, Medical, Underwriting, Facility Services, Distribution Services, Printing and Office Services.


    Mr. Ropp began his career with Kansas City Life in 1981 and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and a Master of Business Administration from Baker University.

  • David A. Laird

    Senior Vice President, Finance

    David Laird joined Kansas City Life in 1982 and has served in various positions through the years. Most recently, Mr. Laird served as Vice President, Controller, since 2007 and was elected as Senior Vice President, Finance, in 2022. Mr. Laird was also elected to the Board of Directors and serves on the Executive Committee.


    Mr. Laird holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from The University of Missouri, Kansas City, has achieved the Certification Public Accounting designation, is a member of the Missouri Society of CPA’s and is a Fellow of the Life Management Institute.

  • R. Philip Bixby

    Chairman of the Board

    R. Philip Bixby is Chairman of the Board. Mr. Bixby has been a Director of the Company since 1985. He was elected Assistant Secretary in 1979; Assistant Vice President in 1982; Vice President in 1984; Senior Vice President, Operations in 1990; Executive Vice President in 1996; President and Chief Executive Officer in 1998, Vice Chairman of the Board in January 2000, and Chairman of the Board in 2005. He retired as President and Chief Executive Officer in 2022.


    Mr. Bixby is a fourth-generation member of the Bixby family and brother of Walter E. Bixby. He is also Chairman of Old American Insurance Company and Sunset Financial Services, subsidiaries. The Bixby family has led the Company since 1904. Mr. Bixby worked his way through the Company in various roles from entry level employee to management for 45 years.


    Mr. Bixby holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.

    Phil Bixby

    2022 Board of Directors

    Kevin G. Barth
    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
    Commerce Bank
    Kansas City, Mo.

    R. Philip Bixby
    Chairman of the Board
    Kansas City Life Insurance Company
    Kansas City, Mo.

    David S. Kimmel
    Managing Partner
    Insurance Advisory Partners LLC
    Rye, N.Y.

    Walter E. Bixby, LLIF
    President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board
    Kansas City Life Insurance Company
    President
    Old American Insurance Company
    President and Chief Executive Officer
    Grange Life Insurance Company
    Kansas City, Mo.

    David A. Laird, CPA, FLMI
    Senior Vice President, Finance
    Kansas City Life Insurance Company
    Kansas City, Mo.

    William R. Blessing
    Retired Senior Vice President,
    Corporate Strategy and Development
    Embarq
    Overland Park, Kan.

    A. Craig Mason Jr.
    Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
    Kansas City Life Insurance Company
    Kansas City, Mo.

    Michael Braude
    Retired President and Chief Executive Officer
    Kansas City Board of Trade
    Kansas City, Mo.

    Cecil R. Miller, CPA
    Retired Partner
    KPMG, LLP
    Kansas City, Mo.

    James T. Carr
    President and Chief Executive Officer
    National Association of
    Intercollegiate Athletics
    Kansas City, Mo.

    Mark A. Milton, FSA, CERA, MAAA
    Senior Vice President and Actuary
    Kansas City Life Insurance Company
    Kansas City, Mo.

    Howard E. Cohen, CPA
    Retired Partner
    Deloitte
    Platte City, Mo.

    William A. Schalekamp, JD, CLU, FLMI
    Retired Senior Vice President, General
    Counsel and Secretary
    Kansas City Life Insurance Company
    Kansas City, Mo.

    John C. Cozad
    President
    Cozad Company, LLC
    Platte City, Mo.