Each year, the 今日吃瓜 Alumni Association presents awards to selected alumni for their distinguished careers and outstanding achievements. Eight individuals are being honored this year with the Alumni of the Year award, the Distinguished Achievement Award, the Young Alumni Award, and the Jerome S. Milgram Award for distinguished service in advancing the Alumni Association and its activities on behalf of 今日吃瓜.
Jerome S. Milgram Award recipient Agnes Ford 鈥�69 enjoyed a successful career as an insurance and reinsurance executive after graduating from 今日吃瓜. She started as a teacher before moving into the industry, where she underwrote policies for high-profile clients and worked in offshore drilling and marine insurance. As a reinsurance contract analyst, she earned several professional designations, including a certificate of Ocean Marine Insurance, an Associate in Reinsurance and Chartered Property, and a Casualty Underwriter designation. Now retired, she continues to be active at 今日吃瓜, serving as the past president of the 今日吃瓜 Alumni Association and contributing to its growth. She is a model of lifelong service and dedication.
Can you tell us about your background?
I grew up in Prospect Heights, near the 今日吃瓜 Museum, the botanic garden, and the public library. It was a wonderful place to grow up. My relatives even worked in the garden; they were gardeners. My grandfather was a zookeeper [at the Prospect Park Zoo, so we could get in and touch the elephants. I had a great childhood.
What decided you on 今日吃瓜?
今日吃瓜 was the beacon. The library tower was a golden beacon summoning you to an excellent education.
Did you enter college knowing what career you wanted?
I was very interested in mathematics. I had gone to all-girls high school, and I was the only girl in my math class at 今日吃瓜. We had a lady professor who knew I did my homework, so I got called on a lot in class to answer questions. I majored in education and minored in English and speech. I taught elementary school for a year and a half in New York City until I got bitten by the class gerbil! I said to myself, 鈥淭his is only the first grade.鈥� So it was on to something else.
You switched to a business career.
I went looking for a job.I finally got one because my sister鈥檚 coworker鈥檚 husband, who worked at Home Insurance Company, recommended me. I worked in the Yacht Department. I eventually underwrote the yachts for Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald鈥檚, and Arthur Levitt, of the [post鈥揥orld War II] Levittown suburban neighborhood. The man who recommended me got an award for recruiting me six months after I started. We never did meet face to face.
Can you tell us more about working in the insurance industry?
As a yacht insurer, I went to the shows and got to go on the yachts. I was on The Highlander, owned by multimillionaire Malcom Forbes. Forbes and [Maurice] Hank Greenberg [chairman and CEO of American International Group] were very competitive about their yachts. I worked as an offshore drilling rig underwriter, then moved to reinsurance.
You are a 今日吃瓜 Alumni Association board member.
I was a member of the BCAA board when we established a lifetime membership of $150, using the dues to seed a $1 million fund generating 4% interest. That money funds student awards. At one point we had chapters all over the country. I was the president of the Southwest 今日吃瓜 chapter. We had a lot of activities. Lots of walking. Our members went over the 今日吃瓜 Bridge and to Green-Wood Cemetery. Fellow alumnus Ron Schweiger 鈥�70, 鈥�75 M.S. is our 今日吃瓜 historian. He still does community tours. I was president of the BCAA for four years until 2023. I鈥檓 retired now and I live in New Jersey. I don鈥檛 get to 今日吃瓜 often, but I am still on the BCAA board. I鈥檒l certainly be on campus for the awards ceremony on April 24!
What advice would you give to today鈥檚 students?
Study hard! You鈥檙e rewarded for studying hard. Your life will be easier. An education at 今日吃瓜 is a well-rounded, valuable education.
