Edward Jones executive to give McCord Lecture at Bradley

Peoria, Illinois...September 10, 2003... Douglas E. Hill, chief operating officer of Edward Jones, will give the McCord Lecture on Thursday, September 25, at noon in the Michel Student Center ballroom on the Bradley University campus.

Joining the company in 1968, Hill has spent his entire professional career with Edward Jones. The financial services firm serves 6 million clients in more than 9,000 offices throughout the U.S. and through its affiliates in Canada and the United Kingdom. In both 2002 and 2003, Edward Jones ranked number 1 on Fortune's annual list of "Best Companies to Work for in America."

Hill was called upon to establish the firm's marketing department in 1981, and he headed the sales and marketing division for the next 16 years. In 1998, he became chief operating officer with responsibility for achieving the firm's aggressive growth objectives. He is responsible for the firm's entire sales force and for all the firm's products and services.

In 2002, Hill's responsibilities were expanded to include the firm's accounting, human resources, information services, operations, and services divisions. In January 2003, he was named to succeed John W. Bachmann as Edward Jones' managing partner and will take over the position in January 2004.

The McCord Lectureship was established by the officers and directors of Illinois Mutual Life and Casualty Company on July 31, 1990, in honor of Robert A. McCord upon his retirement as chairman of the board of the company. The lectureship brings prominent business executives to campus to meet with student groups and business professionals from the community to discuss managerial and organizational applications. !--End copy here -->