Release Date: Wednesday, May 10, 2000

PRUDENTIAL EXEC TOM CRAWFORD TO DELIVER TERRY COLLEGE MBA COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS ON MAY 12

ATHENS, Ga. — Thomas W. Crawford, senior vice president of the Prudential Insurance Co. of America, will deliver the commencement address to graduates of the master of business administration degree program from the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business.

The MBA Commencement ceremony will be held in Hodgson Hall of the Performing Arts Center at 7:30 pm on Friday, May 12, with a reception to follow at the Classic Center. More than 100 MBA candidates will receive their degrees Friday night.

Crawford, who also holds the title of president of Retail Distribution for the Individual Financial Services group, is responsible for Prudential's system of insurance agents and financial planners. Prudential's individual insurance and annuity products are marketed primarily through an agency group that numbers 8,500.

Prior to joining Prudential, Crawford was president and chief executive officer of Southern Heritage Insurance Co. in Atlanta, which he organized and founded in 1984.

Before founding Southern Heritage, he held various positions with CNA Insurance Co., including vice president of corporate services and assistant vice president of personal lines underwriting. He began his career in 1964 with Allstate Insurance Co.

Crawford joined Prudential in 1996 as president and chief executive officer of Prudential Property and Casualty Insurance Co. (PRUPAC). He was promoted to PRUPAC chairman and Prudential senior vice president in 1998 and later that year was named to his current post, which is based in Prudential's Newark, N.J., office.

Crawford serves on the boards of the Life Insurance and Marketing Research Association, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and Property Loss Research Bureau. He also serves on the board of directors of Rutgers University's business school in Newark.

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