INSURANCE EDUCATION FOUNDATION HEAD NAMED

INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 2, 2002)--The Insurance Education Institute (IEI) announced the selection of Jack Clanton as ChIEI Executive Officer, here today.

The IEI seeks to improve the understanding of insurance and its role in society through the education of high school teachers and students. It supports and enhances a curriculum for teaching insurance principles.

"Jack Clanton brings a wealth of insurance industry experience to his new role," said IEI Chairman, William T. Lebo, CPCU. "We look forward to IEI's continued growth under Jack's leadership. He was the best candidate to fill the important leadership role in the IEI. He is a recognized leader in the industry."

Clanton is the retired vice president and general manager of Farm Bureau Insurance Co., Manhattan, Kan. Clanton also served as the chairman of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies 1999-2000. Clanton has also served on the board of directors of the Urban Insurance Partners Foundation and the Kansas Insurance Education Foundation.

"IEI wants to cooperate as much as possible with like-minded organizations to focus on improving the image of the insurance industry," said Clanton. "I want to empower young people with facts and knowledge to counter the myths and attitudes about insurance presented by Hollywood, in novels, and in attorney advertising. Insurers get a bad rap despite all the good work we do."

Clanton said he has been reviewing proposals for the next generation insurance informational video, which will probably be a compact disc.

"IEI seeks to establish broader, more efficient ways to reach teachers beyond our core institute program," said Clanton. "Such an approach will facilitate delivery to a broader base of students and provide practical contexts to assess insurance roles in society."

Clanton said IEI would look at online vs. resident courses, using new media and interactive products. He said he hopes to expand the institute for teachers program from its current five locations: Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa; Florida State University, Tallahassee, Fla.; Illinois State University, Normal, Ill.; St. John's University in New York City, and California State University, Sacramento, Calif.

Clanton's appointment was effective Aug. 1.

Clanton was raised in Neodesha, Kan. He graduated from Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., in 1967, with a bachelor's degree in education. Clanton is a member of the Board of Directors of the Washburn University Alumni Association, a member of First Christian Church in Manhattan, Kan., and a member of Gideons International.

The Insurance Education Institute is a nonprofit charitable organization devoted to improving public understanding of the role of insurance in society. The foundation pursues this mission primarily through the education of secondary school teachers and students.

For more information, contact IEI at 1-800-IEI-4811 or email info@IEI.org.