The LOMA Education Award was presented to Ross Morton, FLMI, of Reinsurance Group of America, during LOMA’s 2005 Annual Conference & Conferment at the Hilton in the Walt Disney World^® Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The award, which is the highest honor LOMA can bestow on an individual, recognizes outstanding contributions to professional education in financial services.

Since earning LOMA’s Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI) designation in 1972, Morton has been an active contributor to LOMA's education and training strategy and initiatives. LOMA first recruited Morton that same year to serve as editor and contributing author for a new LOMA text on underwriting. Since then, Morton has served on numerous volunteer curriculum development panels with LOMA; most recently, he served as a reviewer for LOMA's newly published Business Law for Financial Services Professionals text. He has also served as a reviewer for several LOMA examinations.

In addition to his contributions as an educational advisor on the technical course and exam level, Morton was a major contributor to LOMA education and training at the strategic level. He served on LOMA’s Education and Training Council on three occasions and each time was known and respected for his willingness to both ask hard questions and help LOMA find the answers. During his Council terms, he participated in a strategic planning process that resulted in a total renovation of the FLMI Program curriculum, the development of LOMA’s first online testing system, and the strengthening of the role of FLMI Societies. In his most recent (2000-2002) term as a Council member, he helped to shape the structure and content requirements of LOMA’s new Fellow, Financial Services Institute (FFSI) Program.

“Ross has been a tremendous asset to LOMA over the years,” said Kathy Milligan, FLMI, ACS, ALHC, Vice President, LOMA Education and Training. “His ability to think critically about educational issues, his genuine interest in promoting professional development, his approachability, and his willingness to share his time and talent for the benefit of the industry truly distinguish him. We’re thankful that this award doesn’t signal the end of his LOMA contributions. He has already committed to review another LOMA text!”

Morton has spent 36 years in the life reinsurance business and throughout that time has played a very visible role in the life insurance industry in Canada and the world. Morton served as an Executive Vice President of RGA Life Reinsurance Co. of Canada for 11 years and remains very active with RGA, advising, auditing and mentoring its staff and customers around the world. Prior to his years with RGA, his career included service at an executive level with Manulife Financial, and Storebrand Reinsurance. He began his career at Royal Insurance Group and worked for a number of years at The Mercantile and General Reinsurance Company.

Over the course of his career, Morton has been actively involved with the educational efforts of many industry organizations in the U.S. and Canada, including LOMA, the Institute of Home Office Underwriters, the Home Office Life Underwriters’ Association, the Canadian Institute of Underwriters, the Canadian Reinsurance Conference, and the Canadian Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies. He also chaired and served as a member of the Life Insurance Institute of Canada and was a member of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association’s Educational Relations Committee and Board of Directors.

Congratulations, Ross Morton, on your tremendous achievement!