In Memoriam: Ed Morton, longtime assistant dean and pre-med advisor

Tuesday, Mar 26, 2024 • Greg Pederson :

Longtime employees of the College of Science are mourning the passing of a dear friend and colleague who guided the College’s academic and pre-med programs for three decades. 

Edward Tyson Morton, former College of Science assistant dean for student affairs and health professions advisor, died March 1 at a hospital in Mansfield. He was 80. A memorial service was held March 9 at First United Methodist Church in Arlington. 

Mr. Morton came to UTA in 1983 and for the next 30 years he made the College of Science’s health professions program one of the most well-respected anywhere. His mentorship of students and staff was exemplary and his calm, steady leadership was deeply appreciated by colleagues. 

Over his career, he helped more than 1,500 students gain admission to medical and other health professions schools. He retired from UTA in May 2013. 

“Ed was warm, empathetic, and wise, and I had great respect for him,” said Paul Paulus, dean emeritus and former professor of psychology in the College of Science who served as COS dean from 2004-09. “He made UTA nationally known as a choice for pre-med students. Our students had a high success rate of getting into health professions schools compared with other universities due to his efforts.” 

In addition to being assistant dean for student affairs and health professions advisor, Mr. Morton served as pre-med curriculum coordinator and as chair of the College’s grade appeals committee. He coordinated the College’s academic advising for all six departments; and handled health professions scholarships, including selection of recipients. Additionally, he approved all of the College’s degree plans; edited the College’s undergraduate course catalog; and directed the Joint Admission Medical Program, which provides services and support for disadvantaged students who want to pursue a health professions education. 

He also chaired the University’s curriculum committee and served as advisor to various student organizations. He raised the College’s academic standard for major and overall GPA and his rigorous enforcement of the standard was responsible for significantly improving the percentage of students who met the standards. 

Among the awards Mr. Morton received were the UTA Outstanding Organization Advisor Award, the UTA Professional Advisor of the Year Award, and the National Academic Advising Association’s National Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Student Advising. 

Jane Pugh, who worked as an academic advisor in the UTA Department of Biology for more than 20 years beginning in 1995, said Mr. Morton was always a strong advocate for fellow staff members. 

“Everybody loved Ed. He was a special person and special to all of us,” Pugh said. “He was a great mentor and friend to me and so many other people. He coached and trained me as an academic advisor and he always had our back. He garnered the respect of students, faculty, and staff alike, and our world is a better place because of Ed. He loved working with students and he helped to launch countless medical professionals who in turn have saved countless lives and made great contributions to society.” 

Mr. Morton loved traveling and spending time in Florida, where he and his wife, Anne, had a second home. He enjoyed sailing, deep-sea fishing and classic cars, particularly the Shelby Cobra. 

At the memorial service in his honor, friends recalled some of Mr. Morton’s lovable quirks, such as his well-known aversion to germs and close contact—he was into social distancing long before the Covid pandemic made it a necessity. 

“I never saw him touch an elevator button; he always used his keys,” Pugh said. “He didn’t like to touch door handles either. He also didn’t like needles; he hated them in fact. When they used to give flu shots each year in front of the Central Library, I often had to accompany him in order for him to be able to go through with getting the shot.” 

Mr. Morton was born on June 12, 1943 in Philadelphia, the only child of Edward and Jeanette Morton. He grew up in Philadelphia and Ashland, Kentucky before graduating from high school in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1962. He enrolled at Indiana University-Fort Wayne and earned a B.A. degree in sociology, later adding a master’s degree in philosophy.  

Unsure of what he wanted to do next, Mr. Morton spoke with the dean of student affairs, who asked if he would be interested in working at the university and mentioned that a position was open at IU-South Bend. Mr. Morton realized he loved the college atmosphere and applied for the position, as a freshman counselor. He got the job and started what would become a 40-year career of mentoring students. At IU-South Bend he later became director of admissions and earned a master’s degree in counseling. 

His dislike of cold weather eventually led him to accept a job offer from the UTA College of Science in 1983. He took over as pre-med advisor from Frank Gladden, a professor of microbiology who served in the advising role for many years. 

Paulus summed up the sentiments of everyone during Mr. Morton’s memorial service. 

“Thanks, Ed, for enriching my life and the lives of so many other people,” Paulus said. 

Mr. Morton is survived by his wife, Anne Church Morton; son, Marc Lane Morton; and granddaughter, Sasha Marie Morton. 

The family requests that gifts in Mr. Morton’s memory be made to The University of Texas at Arlington Scholarship Fund or to the American Heart Association. 

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