David Morton emigrated to the United States from London, England, in his sophomore year of high school. Dr. Morton earned a B.S. degree cum laude from the State University of New York at New Paltz and his Ph.D. from Cornell University. His thesis involved iron metabolism in vampire bats, and he continued his general interest in the physiology and ecology of bats throughout his career. Before retiring in 2009, he held positions at Wright State University and Frostburg State University. He chaired FSU's biology department for 9 years. He continues to reside in the city of Frostburg, Maryland, with Beverly, his wife of 46 years. They have one son and four granddaughters.