Edwin Scott Overman

Dr. Edwin Scott Overman, CPCU, born Aug. 26, 1922 in Hope, Arkansas, President Emeritus of The Institutes (formerly American Institute for CPCU and Insurance Institute of America), age 89, died peacefully with no pain on January 26, 2012 in West Chester, PA. His wife of 52 years, Mary Katheryn Overman, and other family members were at his side.

Ed is survived by his devoted wife, Katheryn, daughter, Jeanne Trankle (William) of Washington, NC, and son, James Hunt (Jane) of Etoweh, NC, as well as five grandchildren, and twenty-one great-grandchildren.

Dr. Overman started from humble beginnings on an Indian reservation in Pawnee, Oklahoma, where his father worked. Ed served in the U.S. Army in France during WWII.

Ed received an MS in Economics from Oklahoma State and a Ph.D. from Ohio State. He then devoted his career as an academician to the field of insurance education.

Ed joined the American Institute for CPCU in 1953, and was elected president and CEO of the Institutes in 1966 until his retirement in1987, at which time Development Hall on the Malvern campus was renamed Overman Hall in Ed’s honor. He then served as Lifetime Member of the Institutes Board of Trustees, observing 50 years of service to the Institutes in 2003.

Dr. Overman was inducted into the Insurance Hall of Fame in 1989, received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Olivet College in 1985, and was the first recipient of the prestigious Franklin Award from the Philadelphia CPCU Chapter in 1983. He received many other awards and recognitions. He served on the Board of Directors of Harleysville Insurance and RLI for a number of years.

By the time of his retirement, Ed was likely the most well-known, most-respected, and most-influential person in property-casualty insurance education. He spent most of his time on the road, regularly meeting with insurance company CEOs and other industry leaders to promote the cause of professional development and ethics.

Despite his high stature in the insurance industry, Ed was a humble man, and remembered his roots. He was a much-loved leader, teacher, and friend. Ed’s first love and priority, however, was his wife and his family. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

A memorial service will be held at the Trinity Episcopal Church, 966 Trinity Lane, King of Prussia, 19406 on February 25, 2012 at 11 am, where the Overmans attended for over 50 years. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Habitat for Humanity, 1829 N. 19th St Phila. Pa. 19121, or at www.habitat.org , or to Trinity Episcopal Church. Arrangements are with the Alleva Funeral Home, Paoli, PA.

on of Alleva Funeral Home, Inc., Paoli, PA.