TITLE ws

MARCH, 1966 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

MARCH, 1966

Fellow ALTA Members: Time does indeed fly! It is hard to realize that this month of March is the 6th month in our ALTA year and that, after March, there will be just 6 months ahead in our year. A good time to take inventory of activities to date and plans for the remaining time in the 1965-66 year. Has your ALTA committee met by some form of communication? A personal, a telephone conference, or at least a written exchange by mail, meeting of members? Has your com­ mittee chairman let you know what is expected, or sought, of you this year? Have you, as a committee member, offered to be of service to your chairman? We have enough time remaining in our year to accomplish much of benefit to ALTA. Let's communicate. In December we enjoyed the opportunity to participate in a meet­ ing of the Public Relations Committee at our ALTA Washington headquarters office; in January, a special meeting of the Executive Committee was held, also at our Washington headquarters office; and in February, a pre-organizational meeting at Charlotte, North Carolina virtually assured the addition to ALTA of another affiliated regional land title association (tentatively named Land Title Association of the Carolinas). Principally through the efforts and enthusiasm of N. Bruce Boney, Charlotte, North Carolina, a mem­ ber of the Membership and Organization Committee, the formal organization of this new association and its first convention meeting in late May seem a reality. In March, the annual mid-winter conference at Chandler, Arizona with the unusual resort atmosphere of the San Marcos, the first ALTA golf tournament, and (possibly) a new attendance record established. Looking ahead to April: Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma will hold state conventions; the Central States Regional Title Insurance group will meet; and on April 22-23 the first ALTA Manage­ ment Seminar will be held at the Sheraton-O'Hare Motor Inn near Chicago. Congratulations to Kee and Bill McAuliffe on the arrival on March 2 of Peter Michael, their seventh child. c4m07S~ Don B. Nichols TITLE NEWS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN LAND TITLE ASSOCIATION

EDITORIAL OFFICE: Premier Bldg., 1725 Eye St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006 296-3671

FEATURES How to work with the Press 2 First ALTA Management Seminar 10 A Backhanded Compliment 13 Speedy Take-off for Title Firm 15 Forgery on the Increase 20

DEPARTMENTS A Message from the President inside front cover State Association Corner 18 In the News 22 Meeting Timetable 36

ON THE COVER: the unsung heroes of the glamorous news­ paper wor!d arc the feature editors who go along day after day seeking truthful and newsworthy items. Such a man is VOLUME XLV Jack Willmann, Real Estate Editor of The Washington, D. C. Post. NUMBER 3 Jack frequently Rays that while other newspapers are interested in things his department is interested in peoplea The wisdom of this philosophy is evidenced by his recent election as Presi- 1966 dent of the National Association of Real Estate Editors. Our congratulations to this splendid newspaper man who has a word of advice !or ALTA members-see page 2.

JAMES W. ROBINSON, Editor FRANK H. EBERSOLE, Assistant Editor and Manager of Advertising Page 1 A Top Newsman Gives Tips: HOW TO WORK WITH THE PRESS

JohnB. Willmann, Real Estate Editor of THE WASHINGTON POST, New President Of The National Association Of Real Estate Editors, In An Interview With TITLE NEWS, Gives Some Challenging And Thought-Provoking Comments And Tips On Title Company-News­ paper Relations That You Won't Want To Miss.

By D eane and David H eller

ow well does your company John B. Willmann, Real Estate Edi­ work with the press? How tor of The Washington Post, and Pres­ H ident of the National Association of much do home buyers and poten­ Real Estate Editors, gives sound ad­ tial home buyers in your business vice on how title companies can work area know about title insurance? with the Press. Items on the Settlement Sheet? Abstracts of title? Closing costs? What is the public "image" of your company in your home town? Important questions. New busi­ ness, increased prestige, a better understanding on the part of the realty-buying public are the heady rewards for effective public rela­ tions where it helps most-in the individual title company's home town newspaper. ALT A's Public Relations Com­ mittee is firmly of the opinion that many of the industry's public relation's problems are the result of a lack of information on the Page 2 part of customers and potential news releases, advertisements, fea­ customers of the services per­ ture stories and magazine articles formed by titlemen. A classic to bring the facts about risks and example, of course, is the Reader's legal comp1exities to opinion-mold­ Digest article of a couple of years ers and the public. But there is an back. Undoubted1y without malice, important role for every title com­ the article circulated to an audi­ pany to play in its own com­ ence of millions a mishmash of munity. misconceptions, misdrawn conclu­ sions and misinformation highly Publicity Where It Helps­ unfair and damaging to the title In The Home Town Newspaper industry. On the state and local levels, a The Readers' Digest article was bit more "public relations con­ a shocker. But it did serve one sciousness" can pay real dividends good purpose. It alerted the title -both to the individual title com­ industry to the need for greater pany and to the industry as a effort in getting the truth and the whole. ALTA's Public Relations facts to the public. Committee be1ieves that if each On the national level, ALT A is company makes a bit more of an doing its utmost with a series of effort in its own area of opera-

The increasing interest in real estate news, Editor Willmann declares, provides an excellent opportunity for title companies to work with real estate editors to tell factual stories about the title business to the public.

1 ~-

Page 3 tions, the sum total of the efforts might the real estate editor be in­ will not be a little thing-but terested in? What are some "do's" rather a groundswell of favorable and "don't's" in dealing with the opinion that will have highly bene­ press? ficial results to the entire indus­ "Newspapermen are always in­ try. terested in N-E-W-S," Mr. Wi1l­ The power of the press is mann said. "And that can be in­ enormous. In a major city, even a terpreted broadly. For example, I short news story may be read by don't believe there's a real estate hundreds of thousands of persons. editor in the country who wouldn't It can affect the thinking of vast be interested in a really well-writ­ numbers in their attitude toward ten article on closing costs. The your company. It can win cus­ key to working successfully with tomers, influence people, and pro­ your local newspaper is to keep ject a favorable image needed by the need for news in mind." every company if it is to grow and A native of Williamsport, Pa., prosper. Jack graduated magna cum laude So great is the power of the in journa1ism from Notre Dame, press in influencing people that was a Navy officer on an attack no company can afford to ignore transport during World War II, it. Every tit1e executive will find and now heads the National As­ it worthwhile-whether his com­ sociation of Real Estate Editors, pany has a public relations staff or which has among its active mem­ not-to know something about this bers 82 editors from the nation's great new force in the 20th-cen­ top 'papers. tury business world. Fortunately, Jack frankly declares that many public relations and dealing with title companies lag behind other the press are fascinating, in­ segments of the real estate fra­ triguing subjects. ternity in their news conscious­ ness. "I don't think I get two tips Tips From An Expert a year for stories from title com­ In an effort to be helpful, pany executives," he says. "Al­ TITLE NEWS recently had an ex­ though, in many cases, it would clusive .interview with John B. be entirely possible and proper to Willmann, Real Estate Editor of work title companies into stories The Washington Post, and newly­ of new developments and other elected President of the National activities with news value." Association of Real Estate Ed­ Mr. Willmann noted the great itors. Jack, a husky six-footer who increase in the pub1ic's appetite once pitched a no-hit baseball game for news concerning home-build­ for Lycoming College, was asked to ing, housing and realty news. "It's comment frankly on practical steps grown up since the war," he said. that the local title company can "Only a few years ago, the Real take in dealing with the press. Estate Section in most papers con­ What kind of information do real sisted of a single page or part of estate editors want from title com­ a page. Today, however, many panies? What kind of photographs Real Estate Sections consist of 16 involving title company personnel to 18 pages almost every week. Page 4 The public's appetite for real es­ swer is anything but simple. tate news has grown enormously. "Most of the time, we use the Real Estate Sections vary widely, term to describe what newspaper­ of course, from city to city. Sec­ men can 'hard news,' " he says. tions range from pure puffery to "That is a given event that is excellent coverage on the part of taking place at such and such a editors who do their best to turn time. Names make news. People out a worthwhile section." make news. But there are other Increasing interest in real es­ types of news, too. Feature stories. tate news, Mr. Willmann believes, A title story with a historical provides an excellent opportunity angle to it, if factually and in­ for title companies to work with terestingly written, and emphasiz­ real estate editors to tell factual ing the local angle, would prob­ stories about the title business to ably be welcomed by almost every the public. Real Estate Editor in America." Title Story Complicated Photographs, Too But Can Be Told "And don't forget photographs," "Because of the complexity of Mr. Wi11mann said. "Photographs land titles and real estate laws, are news, too. Busy people may the title industry's story is a bit not take time to read every story more complicated in the te1ling in a newspaper, but readership than that of some other indus­ surveys show that they seldom tries," Mr. Willmann said. "But miss a picture." there is great public interest . . . Jack said that he could visualize because everybody is a home buyer, an occasional, important settle­ past or prospective ... and it can ment ceremony involving title to be successfully told." Then he land for a development or project added, "you'll just have to work a as a news picture in which title little harder and use a bit more company executives could legiti­ imagination in developing good mately be part of the picture. In story ideas that Real Estate fact the picture might better be of Editors will write and publish." the architect's rendering of the There is, however, Mr. Willmann building because photos of people adds by way of cha1lenge, "a tre­ signing documents has been over­ mendous amount of drama and his­ done. tory in the files of title com­ "I imagine that the title com­ panies. Every title company has pany wou1d want to clear the pic­ at least several good stories in its ture idea with the other parties files if it will take the time and concerned," he said. "But most im­ trouble to dig them out and make portant companies are well aware them available to realty writers of the value of news exposure. In and editors. most cases, I'd imagine that they'd be delighted to cooperate." What IS News? Ground-breaking ceremonies also What is news? That's a decep­ offer picture possibilities, Mr. tively simple question, but Jack Willmann adds. Willmann points out that the an- Head and shoulders of photo- Page 5 graphs of important new ap­ to fill. And don't underestimate pointees in the individual title the value of the short item. In a company are often welcome at big newspaper, hundreds of thou­ newspaper offices, Mr. Willmann sands of people may read it. It noted. might well get more readership than a 1onger story." Another Feature Idea "And here's an idea for a fea­ Get To Know The Real Estate ture story," Mr. Willmann said. Editor "I'd like to see a real1y good story Should title company executives worked up on the Settlement Sheet. make an effort to become per­ What are the various items? What sonally acquainted with Real Es­ can a prospective home buyer ex­ tate Editors ? pect when he comes to settle? It "I'd say yes," Jack Willmann seems to me that a factual, in­ advised. "When a newspaperman formative story like this would be is personally acquainted with an a great way for the title industry individual or a company and knows to tell its story. And, if it were them to be legitimate and reputa­ well and factually done, I can't ble, it helps ... all other things think that any Real Estate Editor being equal." wouldn't welcome it. Such a story What are some other tips on would be a rea1 service to the working with the press? reader, and that, after all, is what "The executive of the title com­ the conscientious Real Estate pany that doesn't have a public re­ Editor tries to print." lations staff might do well to learn a few of the basics of the news And Don't Forget The Short, release," Jack says. "The news­ Bright Item paper is a written media and for the most part, except in case of "One thing that always has urgent deadlines on important astonished me," the President of to have things in the National Association of Real stories, we like writing. Routine stories like new Estate Editors declared, "is that appointments, promotions, expan­ when people bring or send stories sion of a company's activities ... to me, they always seem to have a It's better to news release three pages long. things like that. have them on paper than to try That's fine if the subject matter is to take them over the 'phone. For important enough to warrant any­ one thing, there's simply not the where near that kind of space­ time in most cases. Newspaper and if I have that amount of offices are busy places." space available in my section. "But even professional public re­ The News Release lations people se1dom offer me a What are the basics of the news release that would fill less than release? six column inches of type. And "Well, you ought to have it that kind of short, bright story is typed, double-spaced, on one side of the kind that the Real Estate the paper only," Jack says. "It Editor usually has the most need ought to contain, in the upper left for. There are 'holes in the paper' hand corner, the sender's name, Page 6 address, company title and 'phone Jack said. "John Smith may really number. Responsible newspapers spell his name Jon Smythe. It are very leery of publishing a news makes everybody look bad if it gets release unless they know the in the 'paper spelled wrong. Fig­ sender personally or unless there's ures should be correct, too. That a 'phone number to call to check goes for all factual information. out the facts. There are always a Nothing makes an editor so gun­ few cranks who think it's a hilari­ shy of future press releases from ous joke to make up a false news a company or a person as having release and send it to the paper." received a news release in which What else? the names, facts or figures are wrong." "Every release ought to contain the full details of the traditional Praises Jim Robins

GOOD MANAGEMENT

Is Good Public Relations Too! PLAN TO ATTEND ALTA'S FIRST MANAGEMENT

SEMINAR

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, APRIL 22-23, 1966

SHERATON-O'HARE MOTOR INN, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

Conveniently located near Chicago's O'Hare Airport and adjoining the Illinois Toll Road

Two days of intensive study and concentration on the basic problems of management. Conducted by outstanding professionals.

TOPICS INCLUDE: The Functions of Management Personnel Management Management's Use of Accounting Information Taxation As A Key Factor In Business Decisions

SPONSORED BY THE ABSTRACTERS SECTION

AND

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

BUT

ALL ALTA MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND Page 8 (compatibility) YOUR MICROFILM SYSTEM AND AN Itek READER-PRINTER. There's an Itek Reader- Printer that's compatible with any microf ilm system. You'll f in d they al l give big, bright screen images. They're al l capable of turn­ ing out high-contrast opaque prints or true translucents for diazo. You can mask selected areas and preselect the length you want-trimming is automatic.

Here's how you choose the model to fit the microfilm:

For aperture ca rds and For aperture ca rds. Jackets For aperture cards, jackets For 105mm microfilm or Jackets up to 3" x 5" . up to 3" x 5" and 16mm & up to 5" x 8", 16m m & 4" x 5" photographic choose th e 18 • 24 35mm rol l fi lm. choose 35mm roll fi lm and film, choose the 105mm Model AC the 18 • 24 Model RF. microfiche up to 5" x 8'', Model choose th e 18 • 24 Model F For even greater versatility you can add the following to any model: I Project-A-Uth9 Processor­ Stacker-Module-for ID For full details. write Itek Business Products, to make offset plates high-volume finish drying Rochester. New York 14603. directly from microfilm and automatic stacking. Also available In Canada. OUTSTANDING EXPERTS TO CONDUCT FIRST MANAGEMENT SEMINAR

R. E. LASSAR S. R. WAGNER

hat is your "executive at­ Seminar will be "Functions of Man­ W titude I.Q ?" agement," presented by Sheldon R. Members of the American Land Wagner, Associate Professor of Title Association attending the Management and Personnel Admin­ ALTA's first Management Seminar istration, The College of Business Friday and Saturday, April 22 and Administration Roosevelt Univer­ 23, 1966, at the Sheraton-O'Hare sity, Chicago, Illinois. Professor Motor Inn, Chicago, will have an Wagner is a Business Analyst and opportunity to find out! Management Training Consultant. Through the cooperation of of­ Professor Wagner has been a con­ ficers of the Small Business Ad­ tributor to and has had his work ministration, an outstanding array published in Personnel Adminis­ of professional talent has been tration, The Journal of Marketing, confirmed for this pioneering effort Industrial Management, The Chi­ in management instruction under cago Purchasor, The Illinois Cer­ the chairmanship of Alvin R. Robin, tified Public Accountant, The Mar­ Chairman of the Abstracters Sec­ quette Business Review, and The tion. This will be an intensive study Journal of Teacher Education. He course with case histories, visual is a member of the Advisory Coun­ aids, professional instruction, and cil and a former Vice President of a question and answer period. the National Council for Small The first session of the two-day Business Management Development Page 10 G. S. SWOPE W. L. DAVIDSON and holds memberships in the Acad­ having served as Manager of Sal­ emy of Management, The Indus­ ary and Wage Administration, trial Management Society, The Crane Company; Personnel Direc­ American Market Association, and tor, Hubbard and Company; Assist­ The American Economic Associ­ ant Director, Industrial Relations, ation. Yale & Towne Manufacturing Com­ The first hour of the period, de­ pany; Personnel Manager, Ball voted to "Functions of Manage­ Brothers Co. Mr. Davidson received ment," will involve a review of man­ his B.A. from Beloit College and agement principles. This wiU be his Masters Degree from North­ followed by a discussion of an ac­ western University. tual business situation which will George S. Swope has an equally allow those in attendance to deter­ distinguished career as Director, mine how specific management and Industrial Relations, Organization organization principles can be ap­ Planning, Crane Company; Direc­ plied. The second part of this ses­ tor, Industrial Relations, Organiza­ sion will provide an opportunity tion Planning, SCM, Inc.; Assistant for Seminar participants to ac­ Manager, Industrial Relations; As­ tually evaluate their individual sistant Secretary, Inland Steel executive attitudes. This wi11 be fol­ Company. Mr. Swope received his lowed by a question and answer B.A. Degree from Yale University period. and his Masters from the Univer­ Friday afternoon will be devoted sity of Chicago. to "Personnel Management," with These representatives of Man­ all phases of this perplexing sub­ plan will emphasize the "How To" ject clearly outlined by William L. approach to personnel management, Davidson and George S. Swope of covering in detail such topics as re­ Manplan Associates, an organiza­ cruitment, interviewing, compen­ tion specializing in management sation, (including job description problems. Mr. Davidson has a dis­ and performance rating) employee tinguished record of accomplish­ training, and fringe benefits. ment as an advisor to industry, On Saturday morning ALTA Page 11 members will participate in an in­ Small Business Administration. Mr. tensive course on "Management Lassar is a Registered Professional Use of Accounting Information," Manager in the State of Illinois presented by representatives of and a recognized authority in busi­ Touche, Ross, Bailey & Smart, a ness management. He is a member leading Chicago accounting firm. of the Federal Executive Board, the Representing this firm will be Wil­ Illinois Trade Expansion Commit­ liam H. Frewert, CPA, Manager of tee, Chairman of Region VII Small Tax Department. A graduate of the Business Advisory Council, and School of Commerce of Northwest­ Past President of Chicago Oil ern University and the College of Burner Association. He is a lec­ Law of DePaul University. He is turer and panel participant. He a member of the Illinois State Bar has appeared before more than 30 Association, the American Insti­ organizations in recent years. tute of CP A's and the Illinois So­ Our own dynamic National Pres­ ciety of CPA's. Mr. Frewert's pre­ ident Don B. Nichols will be the sentation will not be a highly luncheon speaker on Saturday. technical one. It will be tailored Don's willingness to take on this to the special situations of the assignment is undoubtedly prompt­ ALT A members. ed by the fact that the Management At the final session on Saturday Seminar itself is a natural develop­ afternoon, representatives of the ment resulting from the regional firm of Touche, Ross, Bailey & meetings of abstracters, which were Smart wi11 discuss "Taxation: A initiated under Don's guiding hand. Key Factor In Business Decisions." Members who haven't already As the involvement with business registered for this Management by government at all levels expands, Seminar may do so by writing to a basic knowledge of tax records, the ALTA office. The low registra­ reporting forms, and current rules tion fee of $25 includes the cost of and regulations is imperative. two luncheons as well as printed ALTA members will benefit great­ material which will be distributed ly from this session. during the Seminar. Sleeping room accommodations should be request­ The luncheon speaker on Friday ed directly from the Sheraton will be Richard E. Lassar, Area O'Hare Motor Inn, 6810 North Administrator, Mid-Western Area, Mannheim Road, Des Plaines, Illi­ nois. Once again the dates are Fri­ day and Saturday, April 22 and 23, 1966. Chairman Al Robin points out that, although the Management Seminar is sponsored by the ab­ s tracters section, all ALTA mem­ bers who attend will benefit.

ORDER WINDOW DECALS $2.00 EACH

Page 12 ALTA PUBLICITY GETS A BACKHANDED COMPLIMENT

LTA's famous "Seven Traps states to do the same, took time A For Unwary Home Buyers", out to view ALTA's news release which, a year after its initial ap­ darkly. pearance, is still drawing mail Viewing the public relations of daily into the Washington Office, the American Land Title Associa­ got a sincere compliment recently tion as an "obstacle", Mr. Balbach .. . well, sort of. noted "the aggressive advertising Attorney Stanley B. Balbach, program sponsored locally by local writing in the January, 1966, Jour­ title insurance companies and na­ nal of The American Bar Associa­ tionally by the American Land tion, in lauding the formation of Tit.le Association." lawyer's guaranty title funds in "Recently," Mr. Balbach wrote, such states as Florida and Illinois, "we have seen news releases and urging lawyers in all other throughout the country carrying Page 13 headlines such as "Seven Title has been paid a great many com­ Traps-Outline For Home Buy­ pliments, but perhaps none so ers,'' followed by a story of "Cases heartfelt as that of Mr. Balbach, of Everyday Tragedies", with ex­ who is none-too-friendly toward amples in which individuals have the interests of ALT A members. lost their homes because of a risk This backhanded compliment re­ that could not be discovered by an minds us that it's time again to examination of the record title. point out that the "Seven Traps" The suggestion is made in the news release makes a splendid article that the members of the feature for the real estate pages public write to the ALTA for a of your local newspaper. If your booklet describing these tragedies. newspaper has not yet published The booklet has a scare picture of this story, it's a great one to help a wolf outside a house with a you inform the public of the bene­ shaky title." fits of title insurance. By all In his article, Mr. Balbach de­ means, write to the ALTA office plores the "loss" by the bar of title and we'll prepare, free, a version assurance to private stock title of the story directly written for insurance companies. your local newspaper. Members of the American Land The "Seven Traps" leaflet, too, Title Association might be inter­ is available from the ALTA office ested to know that ALTA's cele­ at the nominal cost of $40.00 per brated news release: "Seven Traps thousand. Experience has shown For Unwary Home Buyers" has that this story has drawn a fan­ appeared in more than one thou­ tastic public response. You might sand of the nation's top news­ want to write for the release and papers and business magazines. It order copies of the booklet today.

PLEASE DIRECT ALL FUTURE REQUEST FOR LAND TITLE COURSE, BY WILLIAM GILL, SR. TO AMERICAN-FIRST TITLE & TRUST COMPANY, 219 PARK A VENUE, OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA

Page 14 New Copying Method

Speeds Takeoff

For Title Firtn

Dane County Tille Company maintains a Five and a half by nine inch copies of legal Bruning 2000 R electro-static copying ma­ size originals arc obtained by Dane County chine in the office of the Dane County Regis­ Title Company from i's Bruning 2000 R ter of Deeds. Copies are 35'/<' reducti

opying speed and clarity are Ctwo increasingly important factors in the title and abstract business. Not only must records kept be complete and current, but the information they contain must be readily accessible so that there is no need to refer to original Page 15 William W. Morrison shown here conferring with another Dane County Title employee is Copies of instruments gathered in the previous the man responsible for the record keeping day's take-off are sorted for posting the first in the Company. thing each morning. Microfilming of each copy is done for security purposes only. inated the planetary camera, blow­ documents in future title searches. back reproduction, and has re­ Dane County Title Company, duced microfilming to merely a Madison, Wisconsin, has satisfied security function, totally separate its needs in this regard with the from the takeoff system. installation of a new electrostatic The company copies an average copying machine. The new copier of 120 title transactions a day. makes clear and legible copies a This number may reach as high as full 35 per cent smaller than the 250 a day during peak periods. original legal-size documents. The The number of sheets per docu­ reductions are as easy to read as ment averages 2.4. They include the originals and so clear, the recorded deeds, mortgages, satis­ company finds, that the values of factions, and notices of lis pendens, documentary stamps attached to old age assistance and probate the originals can be read on the proceedings. copies. These documents are now copied The new electrostatic copier is on a Bruning 2000R electro­ housed in the Register of Deeds static copying machine manufac­ office, in the nearby County & tured by Charles Bruning Com­ Municipal Building, where previ­ pany, Mount Prospect, Illinois. ously the firm maintained a plane­ Bruning is a division of Addres­ tary camera for instrument copy­ sograph Multigraph Corporation. ing. William W. Morrison, Plant The machine makes 51/z" by Manager, and Title Officer for 9" copies from legal-size 8l/2 " x Dane County Title Company, is 14" original documents. "The clar­ especially enthusiastic about the ity of the copies is great!" ex­ new copier. "We have been able to claimed Morrison. "They're black copy every document without the on white, instead of gray on white least difficulty," he said. "The as were some copies we had to copier has made it possible for us work with previously. Toward the to trim a good deal of time from end of a day of reading poor our takeoff system without chang­ copies a person's eyes can become ing the system itself,'' he said. very tired. That doesn't happen The machine, however, has elim- anymore,'' he said. Page 16 Takeoff commences with the ar­ Recorded instruments in the rival of a Dane County Title em­ Register of Deeds office are filed ployee at the office of the Regis­ in numerical sequence, lowest num­ ter of Deeds about an hour and a bers first. Copies held by Dane half before the office closes. Copy­ County Title are filed in that same ing of the day's recorded docu­ order. As copies are made on the ments begins immediately. They Bruning copier, they stack up are obtained from the front desk, highest number first. The copies where all recorded instruments are then re-stacked in proper se­ from the day are held for public quence as each is rubber stamped inspection. In the hour and a half with the day's date, a procedure left to her, the operator of the Dane County Title uses to pro­ Bruning copier runs copies of all vide an easily located identifica­ pertinent documents, checks the tion. Register of Deeds' record books After microfilming at the Dane for mortgage satisfactions and County Title office, the copies are makes short notations on each sorted into platted and unplatted document regarding subdivision properties. The firm files platted name and block and lot numbers. and unplatted instruments sep­ Her work ends when the office arately. Documents on platted closes, but the job has been com­ properties are further sorted and pleted by then. filed by geographic location. This With no intermediate steps other system, said Morrison, facilitates than security microfilming, information retrieval in future speedily accomplished with an au­ title searches. tomatic camera, the day's copied In posting, each platted copy is instruments are ready for posting inserted in its proper sub-division in Dane County Title's files. folder, filed in each plat section. Previously, Morrison explained, The number of the document and exposed film from the firm's plan­ the lot number is entered in index etary camera had to be processed columns inside the folder. Copies at the end of the day. The fol­ of all previous documents and ab­ lowing morning when the proc­ stracted information relating to essed film was obtained blow-backs each property is contained in the were made, two to a sheet of paper. folders so that a title search can Then the copies were cut apart on be made of all property in each a paper cutter. After this a Dane title. County Title staff member re­ turned to the Register of Deeds Dane County Title makes its office to verify satisfactions on copies on pre-punched paper. Two documents requiring them. As a holes punched in the paper permits result, posting of the previous copies for platted filing to be fast­ day's recorded instruments was ened inside the folder. Documents seldom finished until some time involving unplatted property are between 11 :30 a.m. and 1 p.m., checked against map records and Morrison said. "Since we obtained the file designation is entered on the Bruning machine," he said, the copies for posting. These docu­ "all posting is complete before ments are then filed together in 10 :30 in the morning." numerical series of 100. Page 17 Assoc lation

ABOVE: ALTA President Don B. Nichols and Mrs. Nichols (Vera Rose), share a joke with Harriet and George Garber. Mr. Garber is the ALTA Vice President.

LEFT: Newly elected officers arc (left to right) Bruce Little, Second Vice President; Wil­ liam W. Francis, First Vice President; Alan Brunet, President; Robert Erickson, ecreta ry-T reasu rer. First Convention For Nevada Land Title Association itle insurance executives rep­ Company, of Santa Ana, California, T resenting title insurance com­ launched the informative program panies throughout Nevada attend­ by delving into the subject of ed the highly successful Nevada "Title Insurance - Losses - En­ Land Title Association Convention dorsements". held November 11-13 at the Tropi­ Next on the program was the cana Hotel in Las Vegas. Dele­ presentation of Robert Duff, exec­ gates heard convention chairman, utive of First American Title In­ William W. Francis, of First Title surance and Trust Company, in the Insurance Company, of Las Vegas parent offices in Santa Ana, Cali­ deliver the welcoming address fol­ fornia. lowed by the introduction of Harold Duff defined condominium own­ Wandesforde, N.L.T.A. President. ership and explained the coopera­ Wandesforde acknowledged the at­ tive structure. He explained many tendance of Don B. Nichols, Presi­ interesting legal aspects of acquir­ dent of the American Land Title ing title to condominium property Association and George Garber, and gave valuable pointers on how ALT A Vice-President at the con­ to avoid serious problems to the vention. condominium buyer. In summation Oscar H. Beasley, counsel for he detailed methods in which title First American Title Insurance companies can assist potential Page 18 Don Nichols (third Crom left) is pictured with William W. Francis, Alan Brunet and Robert Erickson.

condominium buyers. The final speaker of the pro­ gram was Floyd Cerini, of Title Insurance and Trust Company in Los Angeles. Cerini spoke on "Functions & Responsibilities of State Association". He outlined the necessary ingredients required to set up a new organization in­ cluding all committees that must be included. In conclusion he indi­ cated that the cooperation and understanding of all members is of primary importance. Social highlights of the conven­ Baroid WandesCorde, retiring President, and tion included the first annual Bill Francis stand as George Garber, Harley Carter and Don Nichols relax at the first N.L.T.A. Golf Tournament held at Nevada Association Convention. the Dunes Country Club. Winning participants were Franklin Rich­ ards of Pioneer Title Insurance mercial Title in Reno, President, Company in Las Vegas and Robert William W. Francis, of First Title Niehoff of Chicago Title. Mrs. Insurance in Las Vegas, 1st Vice Harold Wandesforde welcomed all President, Bruce Little, of Nevada female delegates and convention Title in Las Vegas, 2nd Vice Pres­ guests to a ladies luncheon and ident, and Robert Erickson, of fashion showing held in the Gour­ Pioneer Title in Reno, Secretary­ met Room of the Tropicana Hotel, Treasurer. presenting another highly success­ As the final curtain was drawn ful facet of the convention social on this year's N.L.T.A. convention, calendar. all delegates and guests expressed New officers elected at the final extreme satisfaction with the in­ business s es s i on to represent formative and educational pro­ N.L.T.A. for the coming year in­ gram, in addition to the enjoyable clud.~d Alan Brunet, of First Com- social activities. Page 19 Forgery on the Increase

By Robert K. Maynard Director of Public Relations Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation Richmond, Virginia

Forgers Had Their Most Active Year in 1965 In Fraudulent Real Estate Transactions, New Survey Shows. Multi-Million-Dollar Empire In Texas Built On Forgery ... Gay Trips To Las Vegas ... The Case Of The Adventurous Lady . . . Ingenious Swindles In Real Estate Stranger Than Fiction:

multi-million-dollar empire in in real estate transactions. A Texas built on forgery . . . Forgers had a banner year in the disgruntled h u s b a n d who 1965, a survey conducted by Law­ forged his divorced wife's name to yers Title Insurance Corporation a worthless deed ... the dishonest of Richmond reveals. Clever swin­ real estate broker in Florida who dlers, using an ingenuity that swindled many home b u y e r s­ would shame most fictional wrong­ these are just three of a rising doers, are more active than ever tide of forgeries which have come before in the real estate field. to be more and more of a hazard What's worse, forgery carried on Page 20 by supposedly reputable and "hon­ nally, the scheme collapsed when est" businessmen is on the rise­ one too many trips to Las Vegas and is exceedingly hard to detect exhausted his money. -until the roof caves in on "Fortunately for the lenders, schemes they have concocted. they were protected by title insur­ "Every home b u y e r, every ance," Rawlings said. "Losses sus­ builder, every banker needs to be tained by many title insurance made aware of these rising haz­ companies will run to an estimated ards, made possible by falsification three million dollars. This incident, via forgery of land records," as do all of the other forgery cases George C. Rawlings, Board Chair­ revealed, dramatically shows the man of Lawyers Title, declared. value of title insurance. An exami­ "Every honest person has a stake nation of the public records, even in being alert to help stop this by a highly-skilled person, would trend. Forgery in real estate is not have shown anything wrong." much like forgery in passing bad An "adventurous" lady in Geor­ checks in that it results in a gia conducted an interesting forg­ 'hidden tax' on everybody by in­ ery on a more modest scale. Need­ creasing the cost of doing business ing money to finance her gay life, in real estate." she noted that a house was un­ The most spectacular of real occupied-because the owner and estate forgeries during 1965 oc­ his wife were in Germany where curred in the southwest, the survey he was on Army duty. The woman shows. A son of a respected fam­ forged a deed from the absent ily-who had a taste for fast cars, owners to herself. Then she "sold" fast living and trips to Las Vegas the house to a newly-married cou­ -concocted an elaborate and in­ ple and departed. The forged deed, genious scheme that might have of course, conveyed no title to the come straight from a novel. house. Fortunately, the newly-mar­ A real estate dealer, the forger rieds were covered by title insur­ mortgaged properties. Then he got ance. hold of printed mortgage release In New Mexico, a disgruntled forms of the lending companies husband forged his wife's name to . . . and even duplicates of his a deed and sold the family home. lender's seals! Carefully practicing It was later learned that the wife the signatures of the officers of was 3,000 miles away at the time the lending companies, he forged the deed was allegedly signed and "releases" of the mortgage that acknowledged in New Mexico! looked authentic. These he record­ A real estate broker in Florida ed at the public record offices. In who forged deeds, false affidavits one case, the same property was by builders in Alabama and Cali­ mortgaged, "released," and mort­ fornia regarding the satisfaction gaged again seven times! of mechanic's liens, the forgery of For months, the scheme was corporate resolutions authorizing kept from coming to light because the sale of property in Arizona . . . the forger kept up the payments these and many other cases were due on the many mortgages. Fi- noted in the survey. Page 21 fornia, Warn entered the title busi­ ness in 1928 in the Redwood City office of California Pacific Title Insurance Company. He served in various capacities with that firm and in 1942 became vice president and manager of its Sacramento subsidiary, Capital City Title Company. In 1952, California Pa­ cific acquired a sub tantial stock interest in Land Title Insurance Company of Los Angeles and at the request of California Pacific, Warn accepted a leave of absence GARBER AND WARN and assumed the responsibilities of PROMOTED executive vice president of Land he promotion of two senior Title. In 1953, he was elected pres­ T officers of Title Insurance ident of that company. In 1959, and Trust Company, Los Angeles, California Pacific was acquired by California, has been announced by Title Insurance and Trust Com­ Ernest J. Loebbecke, Chairman of pany, and with the termination of the Board and Chief Executive his leave of absence, Warn was Officer. transferred to the home office of Hale Warn, formerly Executive Title Insurance and Trust Com­ Vice President, Operations, was pany to serve in the capacity of elected S en i or Executive Vice executive vice president. In Febru­ President, and in this capacity will ary, 1960, he was elected to the continue as head of operations for board of directors of Title Insur­ the five divisions in California and ance and Trust Company and also Nevada. serves as a member of its executive Concurrently, Loebbecke added committee. that George B. Garber, formerly He served as president of the Senior Vice President, was elected California Land Title Association Executive Vice President, Na­ during the 1959-1960 term. He is tional Operations, for the company. currently a member of the execu­ A native of San Mateo, Cali- tive committee of that association, GARBER WARN HERBRUCK

Page 22 and also is a member of the board of the Association's Board of Gov­ of governors of the American Land ernors. Title Association. The appointment of Verne Her­ Garber, who also serves as Presi­ bruck, Senior Vice President, to dent of the title firm's new sub­ head up all marketing responsibil­ sidiary, Pioneer Na ti on al Title In­ ities for Title Insurance and Trust surance Company, is responsible Company, has also been announced for all title operations outside by Ernest J. Loebbecke. California and Nevada. In his new assignment, Her­ Garber is a native of Oklahoma bruck will devote his entire time and is a 1936 graduate of the and attention to expanding the University of Washington Law company's sales effort, Loebbecke School. Upon graduation, he en­ added. tered the private practice of law Formerly manager of the com­ until 1939, at which time he be­ pany's Los Angeles and Orange came affiliated with Washington Counties title operations, Her­ Title Insurance Company. He was bruck is a veteran employee of the elected a vice president in June, title firm. He joined the company 1947, was elected to the board of in October, 1926, and has served in directors in January, 1949, elected many capacities during the past executive vice president in Decem­ thirty-nine years, including that of ber, 1951, and president in Decem­ searcher, title officer, advisory ber, 1955. title officer, training officer for In 1957, Garber was elected a title department employees, man­ vice president of Title Insurance ager of branch operations, and and Trust Company and trans­ manager of home office title op­ ferred to the home office in Los erations. Angeles. In 1959, he was elected Herbruck has been active in a senior vice president of the com­ numerous civic and professional pany, and in 1961, was elected to organizations. He is currently its board of directors. serving as 1966 President of Town Garber has been extremely active Hall. He has served on many com­ in community and professional af­ mittees of the California Land fairs. He is presently serving as Title Association and was 1962-63 Vice President, American Land president of that organization. Title Association and is a member Also at T.l. MOSHER EVANS

Page 23 he promotion of Albert W. will become formally effective as T Evans as manager of Ala­ rapidly as it is po sible to effect meda County operations for Title an orderly transition of assign­ Insurance and Trust Company, has ments. been announced by James D. For­ A veteran employee of the title ward, Jr., Senior Vice President company, Sleight has had service and San Francisco Division Man­ in searching, examining, and coun­ ager. ty administration. He joined the Evans s u cc e e d s Merritt C. company in September, 1941, and Mosher, Vice President and for­ progressed through the title de­ merly manager, who is relinquish­ partment until his appointment as ing his managerial responsibilities assistant manager in 1953 of the in anticipation of his formal re­ San Luis Obispo County Office. tirement in September of this year. He held that position until April, Forward stated that Mosher will 1960, when he was appointed man­ continue to serve Alameda County ager of San Luis Obispo and con­ in an advisory capacity until his currently was elected a vice presi­ retirement date. dent. In September, 1961, he was Mosher served the title insur­ promoted to the managership of ance company and its predecessor the Santa Barbara County Office, title companies in Alameda County and in August, 1963, was promoted for the past 41 years. to the managership of the San Evans, a native of Berkeley, Bernardino C o u n t y Office, at California, attended public schools which time he assumed the respon­ in that city and joined the title sibilities formerly held by Allen insurance company in 1947. He C. McGurk, who was appointed has served as a searcher, a title manager of the Southern Division. officer and an escrow officer prior Butler, the newly appointed to his appointment as manager of manager, has been an employee of the firm's Fremont office in March the title insurance company since 1960. In January, 1961, he was 1946, and has had extensive ex­ named assistant manager of Ala­ perience in title, escrow, systems meda County operations and in and research, and management. In November, 1962, was elected a vice December, 1960, he was elected a president of Title Insurance and vice president of Pioneer Title In­ Trust Company. surance Company of Nevada and The promotion of Richard G. served as assistant manager of the Sleight, San Bernardino County then Washoe Division in Reno. In Manager for Title Insurance and October, 1963, he was appointed Trust Company, to Fresno Divi­ assistant manager of the com­ sion Manager, was announced by pany's Santa Clara operations. Hale Warn, Senior Executive Vice President. DIVISION TRANSFERRED Succeeding Sleight as County etropolitan Title Guaranty Manager, is John J . Butler, Assist­ M Company announced recently ant Manager of Santa Clara that due to the increased activity County operations. of its newly enlarged office at 105 Warn added that the changes Court Street, Brooklyn, New York, Page 24 J. Jennings Mahran, Vice Presi­ Local Division, moved into the Na­ dent and Chief Counsel, has trans­ tional Division in 1956. He is a ferred the activities of the legal graduate of the Jefferson Law division from the company's main School. office, 41 East 42nd Street, New Tucker came with the company York, to the Brooklyn office. in 1956. The native Louisvillian is Mr. Mahran, a resident of a 1954 graduate of the University Brooklyn, was formerly Associate of Kentucky School of Law. Counsel in the New York State WORKMAN NAMED MANAGER Banking Department. He is a member of the Brooklyn Bar Asso­ onald R. Workman has been ciation, B r o o kl y n Real Estate .D named Manager of the Curry Board, New York State Bar Asso­ County branch of the Oregon Title ciation, New York County Lawyers Insurance Company. The appoint­ Association and the Brooklyn Law­ ment, effective January 1, 1966, yers Club of the Federation of was announced by Roy Vernstrom, Jewish Philanthropies. President of O.T.I. Workman and his family will LOUISVILLE TITLE move to Gold Beach after eight PROMOTES THREE years in Klamath Falls, where he JOuisville Title Insurance Com­ has been title examiner and most L pany recently announced the recently Assistant Manager at the promotion of three officers. The Klamath Falls 0.T.I. branch. Board of Directors moved Charles The new Curry County Manager A. Staebler, Jr., from Assistant succeeds David A. DeMartino, who Secretary to Secretary. Emery S. has resigned to become Assistant Graham and Charles I. Tucker, Attorney General of Oregon for former Assistant Vice Presidents, Insurance. became Vice Presidents. Workman has been with Oregon The three officers are assigned Title Insurance since 1948, during to the company's National Division. which time he has served in Port­ Staebler joined Louisville Title in land, Oregon City and Klamath 1958 after receiving his law degree Falls, prior to his new assignment from the University of Louisville. in Gold Beach. Graham, who began his career In Klamath Falls he was assist­ with Louisville Title in 1947 in the ant to Manager James A. Little, a

STAEBLER GRAHAM TUCKER

Page 25 former manager of the O.T.I. and served as its President until Curry County branch. 1959 when the company was sold. In 1948 he purchased an abstract HARBERT RETIRES company in Boone County and op­ eorge E. Harbert, President erated that as a subsidiary of the and Manager of the Rock Is­ DeKalb County Abstract Company Gland County Abstract & Title until the sale of that company. In Guaranty Company, announced 1954 he acquired all the common that L. Raymond Berger of Ed­ stock of the Rock Island County wardsville, Illinois, has purchased Abstract & Title Guaranty Com­ all the common stock of the com­ pany and has acted as its Presi­ pany and assumes the position of dent and Manager since that time. President and Manager, effective Throughout his business career, January 26, 1966. Mr. Harbert has taken an active Mr. Berger resigned from Chi­ part in the affairs of both state cago Title and Trust Company, and national title associations. He with whom he has been associated served as President of the Illinois for the past 13 years. He has Land Title Association in 1951-52 served most recently as Manager and recently served as Chairman of that firm's Madison County Of­ of the Educational Committee of fice in Edwardsville, Illinois. He this association. Under his super­ received a B.S. degree from the vision, the committee completed an University of Illinois in 1950, an Abstracter's Manual which will be LL.B. degree from the John Mar­ used as an instruction guide in shall Law School in 1953 and an teaching employees of abstract M.B .A. from the University of companies throughout the state. Chicago in 1962. He was admitted On the national side, his con­ to the Illinois Bar in 1953. tribution of time and service has George Harbert retires from the been equally generous. He served business scene following almost 50 as Chairman of the Abstracters years of service on community, Section of the American Land state and national levels. He was Title Association and held the posi­ graduated from Notre Dame Uni­ tions of Vice President and Presi­ versity in 1918 with an LL.B. dent of this national association, degree and was admitted to the completing his term as President Illinois Bar a year later, following in 1954. his discharge from the U.S. Navy Mr. Harbert is the author of a in World War I. Engaged in the Case Book on Real Property and of private practice of law, he became a text book on real property pub­ employed by Chicago Title and lished in 1942. Trust Company in 1923 and was The Rock Island County Ab­ named a title officer of this com­ stract & Title Guaranty Company pany in 1929. During this period and its predecessors have made he also taught an evening course abstracts for this community for in real estate law at John Marshall nearly a hundred years. Law School. The firm of Osborn & Curtis In 1946 he purchased the De­ prepared abstracts for the public Kalb County Abstract Company in the early 1870s. This firm was Page 26 succeeded by Curtis & Curtis, who functions performed at the newly were attorneys practicing in Rock designated Head Office Region, Island. The company was incorpo­ excluding centralized departments, rated under the name of Rock Is­ and will be located at the Head land County Abstract Company in Office at 176 Broadway. 1906 and Hugh Curtis, successor Mr. Weiss is a member of the to the firm of Curtis & Curtis, was Bar of New York State and re­ its principal stockholder. In 1920 ceived his Law Degree from St. the Rock Island County Abstract Lawrence University. Company merged with the Moline He joined Lawyers Title Corpora­ Title & Abstract Company which tion of New York, a predecessor had been incorporated in 1909, and company in 1945 as a closing the consolidated company became attorney. He was promoted to As­ known as the Rock Island County sistant to Counsel in 1957. In 1961 Abstract & Title Guaranty Com­ he was elected Assistant Vice pany. The Charter, as amended in President and placed in charge of 1920, authorized the company to the administration of the Closing issue title insurance policies and Department and in August 1964 the company did issue such policies was promoted to Vice President in until 1931. In 1931 the deposit charge of the New York Branch with the State was withdrawn and Office operation. the company thereafter issued pol­ Other elections announced were icies of the Chicago Title and as follows: Trust Company. Lawrence H. Wachter, Jr.-Asst. In 1955 the company purchased Vice President, Riverhead Of­ all of the stock of the Witter & fice as Manager Walker Title & Abstract Company Felix J. Matheis-Asst. Vice and combined the operations of President, Mineola Sales & the two companies. Service The company moved from the Anthony Sabato - Asst. Vice Rock Island Bank Building on President, Staten Island Of­ January 1, 1960 to its present fice Manager quarters and it now occupies the Robert L. Behrman-Title Of­ entire third floor of the Liberty ficer, Mineola Production Building located at 211-18th Frank W. Kosman-Title Offi­ Street in Rock Island. The com­ cer, Mineola Production pany has maintained an office in Sidney Rosenthal-Asst. Coun­ Moline throughout its history and sel, Brooklyn Counsel Staff in Moline its offices are located at Arthur Leepson-Asst. Title Of­ 703 First National Bank Building. ficer, New York Office Pro­ duction ELECTIONS AT T.G. Philip F. Sabato-Asst. Title ax Weiss has been elected a Officer, White Plains Produc­ M Senior Vice President of The tion Title Guarantee Company, New Philip K. Hansen-Asst. Title York, N.Y. it was announced by Officer, White Plains Produc­ Herman Berniker, President. Mr. tion Weiss will be responsible for all Charles F. Dickens-Asst. Title Page 27 Officer, White Plains Index & NEW EASTERN REGIONAL Plant QUARTERS FOR CHELSEA Robert N. Jaeger-Asst. Secre­ TITLE tary, New York, Territorial he November 15, 1965 opening Sales & Service of its newly established East­ Robert W. Martin-Asst. Secre­ Tern Regional Sales Office in the tary, New York Territorial Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Build­ Sales & Service ing, 123 South Broad Street, Phil­ Edward P. Fahy-Asst. Secre­ adelphia, Pennsylvania, was an­ tary, New Jersey Sales & nounced by Paul C. Burgess, Presi­ Service dent, Chelsea Title And Guaranty Company, Atlantic City, New Jer­ HUNTER APPOINTED sey. obert C. Hunter has been ap­ The Regional Sales Office is R pointed Associate Counsel for headed by F. V. Westermaier, Jr., the Title and Trust Division of Vice-President. Its function will Pioneer National Title Insurance be to provide settlement facilities Company, Portland, Oregon ac­ for customers who need access to cording to announcement of Her­ a Philadelphia center city loca­ bert Altstadt, Vice President and tion, service to subsidiaries, ap­ Division Manager. proved a t t o r n e y s, agents and Hunter is a graduate of the branch offices located within the University of Oregon School of Region. In addition, this office will Law and is a member of the Ore­ also service the following states: gon State Bar. He is a member of Virginia, M a r y l a n d, Delaware, the Multnomah County Bar Asso­ Pennsylvania and Ohio. Washing­ ciation, the Multnomah Club and ton, D.C. is included. the Exchange Club of Portland. Westermaier has many years of Hunter retired from the United experience in all phases of the States Army as a Lieutenant title industry. He earned his Bach­ Colonel in the Judge Advocate elor of Science Degree in Econom­ Department in 1961. ics from the Wharton School, Uni­ He was employed by Title and versity of Pennsylvania, and stud­ Trust Company as a title examiner ied at the University of Pennsyl­ in 1962. vania Law School. Currently, he is

HUNTER WESTERMAIER

Page 28 a Second Vice-President of New with an expansion program. Jersey Chapter # 15, American Marvin H. New, a recent addi­ Right of Way Association; a Past tion to the Title Company staff is President, New Jersey Title Asso­ President of Center City Agency, ciation, and a member of its Board Inc., and in charge of the new of Governors; member, South J er­ Philadelphia office at 1522 Walnut sey Development Council; and a Street. member, Delaware Valley Develop­ Marvin E. Wurtzel became asso­ ment Council. ciated with the Title Company one year ago and is in charge of PROMOTIONS AT Accounting operations. WEST JERSEY TITLE The two female members of the he organization meeting of staff include Clare D. Meeker, T the Board of Directors of Assistant Secretary, and Helen­ West Jersey Title and Guaranty clare Donohoe, Assistant Treas­ Company was held recently and urer, who is in charge of the new the following officers were elected Haddonfield office at 15 E. Euclid to serve for 1966: Avenue, both of whom are well Frank J. McDonough-Presi­ qualified by long terms of service dent and are well known to the real Raymond B. Heston-Vice-Presi­ estate fraternity of South Jersey. dent and Treasurer Joseph E. Lewellen-Vice-Presi­ BELL AND KRUG dent and Secretary PURCHASE CORP. Edward A. Tobin-Vice-Presi­ r. Richard E. Bell, Jr., for­ dent and Senior Title Officer M merly with the Chicago Title Alvin C. Lewis-Vice-President Insurance Company, Home Title and Title Officer Division, has purchased the 41- Jerome Weisberg - Vice-Presi­ year old Lawyers Abstract Corpora­ dent in Charge of Sales tion, 41 Schermerhorn Street, Marvin H. New-Vice-President Brooklyn, N. Y. .Myron P. Walker-Asst. Secre­ Accompanying Mr. Bell into the tary & Asst. Title Officer new ownership will be Stewart L. Marvin E. Wurtzel - Assistant Krug, of 250 Broadway, New York Treasurer City. Clare D. Meeker-Assistant Sec­ Mr. Bell will be the new Presi­ retary dent of the firm. He has spent the Helenclare Donohoe - Assistant previous five years with "Home Treasurer Title" in their Manhattan, Brook­ ~fr. Alvin C. Lewis, who is in lyn, and Staten Island offices. charge of the Woodbury Office, Their new policy of operation was advanced from the office of will include abstracts of title, plus Assistant Vice-President and As­ title insurance, if desired, through sistant Title Officer. major title companies. Jerome Weisberg occupies the This system of complete ab­ new office of Vice-President in stracts of the history of the prop­ Charge of Sales and will handle erty will be given, even though promotional activity in connection title insurance is also given. Page 29 For the most part, the newly tive February 1, 1966. organized firm will be searching In announcing the new name, properties in New York City, New W. H. Cothrum, Chairman of the York State, and New Jersey. Board and Chief Executive Officer, said the same general operating BURKE ELECTED policies of the individual compa­ r. James G. Schmidt, Presi­ nies will be continued under the M dent of Commonwealth Land combined name. Title Insurance Company, Phila­ "A great many considerations delphia, Pa. has announced the were necessary before finalizing election of Joseph D. Burke to Vice the name change," Cothrum ob­ President, National Title Division. served. "Personnel and business Mr. Burke joined the Company values associated with each of the in 1960, and within the National individual names through the Title Division has been placed in years dictated the decision to in­ charge of the Company's activities clude all three in the combined in the states of Maryland, North company name." and South Carolina, Tennessee Sam W. French, a former Na­ and the District of Columbia. He tional Title Co. executive, has been received his Law degree from the appointed Executive Vice Presi­ Georgetown University in 1951 and dent of the Dallas-Texas-National is a member of the District of Title Co. Columbia Bar and the Maryland Another organizational change State Bar. Mr. Burke has been in the combined company creates active in the title insurance field an Executive Committee which since 1955 following several years will include representation of all of the private practice of law. branches through participation of NEW COMPANY NAME George W. James (advisory), and new single c o m p a n y name, Senior Vice Presidents R. A. Met­ A Dallas - Texas - National Title calf and Mrs. Sarah Townsend. Co., designates the combined oper­ Mrs. Townsend, a native Texan, ation of three long-established title gained her first business experi­ firms, as National Title & Abstract ence with the B. F. Goodrich Co. Co. joins Dallas Title Co. and in their operation of the Lone Texas Title & Abstract Co., effec- Star Ordinance Plant in Texar­ kana. Before joining Dallas Title BURKE Co. in 1953, she acquired valuable knowledge related to the title in­ dustry through work and associa­ tion with the Dallas National Bank Trust Department and the law of­ ,fices of Locke, Purnell, Boren, Laney and Neely. The downtown office of Dallas­ Texas-N ational continues at 1301 Main with a new telephone number of Rlverside 2-3401. Branch of­ fices throughout Dallas County Page 30 will remain in their present loca­ Title. tions with their same telephone During his title career he was listings. Mayor of Visalia for six years and A distinctive new company sym­ a member of the Visalia City bol has been provided for use in Council for eight. He was also all offices. The symbol features active in the California Land Title the initials "DTN" and will be Association, representing his com­ prominent in all printed matter pany on the Executive Committee. and display materials used by the Ernest J. Billman, President of company. Security Title, presented Gannon PROMOTIONS with a framed commemorative cer­ AND RETIREMENT tificate on the eve of his retire­ ment. wo appointments to the legal T staff of Security Title Insur­ SPROULS ELECTED TO BOARD ance Company, Los Angeles, Cali­ he election of Walter A. fornia, are announced by Bruce T Sprouls to the Board of Di­ M. Jones, Vice President and Chief rectors of New Jersey Realty Com­ Counsel. pany, Newark, New Jersey parent Hollis L. Carlile, a former Texan company of New Jersey Realty and a member of the California Group, was announced recently. Bar, has been appointed an Asso­ Sprouls is Executive Vice Presi­ ciate Counsel. James N. Laichas, dent and Title Officer of New who has been a member of the Jersey Realty Title Insurance Com­ Hartford Insurance Group in Los pany, a subsidiary firm of New Angeles since 1951, joined Security Jersey Realty Company. Title's legal staff as Assistant Sprouls, who lives at 403 Maple Counsel. Street, Rutherford, has been Ex­ Both men will have their head­ ecutive Vice President of the Title quarters in Security's home office Company since 1963. He joined the in Los Angeles. company in 1939 and was named ALSO AT SEGVllI'l'Y an Assistant Title Officer in 1950, J. PIERCE GANNON Associate Title Officer in 1956 and Title Officer in 1963. ecurity Title Insurance Com­ He was elected to the Board of pany's first 50-year man, J. S the title company last year. A Pierce Gannon, Senior Vice Presi­ dent and manager of the com­ GANNON pany's Tulare County operations, retired December 31, 1965. Nearly one thousand friends and business associates a t t e n d e d a cocktail party in his honor in the Veteran's Memorial Building, Visalia. Born in Santa Rosa and raised in Visalia, Gannon entered the title business in 1916 as a title searcher for the Visalia Abstract Company, predecessor of Security Page 31 native of Jersey City, he is a He has been in the title insur­ graduate of Fordham University ance business for more than 45 and a member of the Bar Associa­ years. He was first employed with tion of Essex and Hudson Coun­ Potter Title and Trust Company ties. He also belongs to the New of Pittsburgh and served in vari­ Jersey Bar Association. ous executive positions. Sprouls is past president of the In 1933 Kenan was elected Vice New Jersey Land Title Insurance President of the newly-formed Association and a member of the Lawyers Title Company of Pitts­ Legislative C o mm i t t e e of the burgh and two years later was American Land Title Association. named its President. He also has been associated with Lawyers Title Insurance Corpo­ the New Jersey Practicing Law ration acquired this company in Institute. 1944. The Pittsburgh company op­ subsidi­ GOODE AND KROCK erated as a wholly owned with Kenan ELECTED TITLE OFFICERS ary of Lawyers Title as President until the company ohn Goode of Norfolk, Virginia, was made a branch office opera­ and Mitchell S. M. Krock of tion of Lawyers Title. In 1960 JBoston, Massachusetts, have been Kenan was named Vice President officers of Lawyers elected title of Lawyers Title. Title Insurance Corporation. Kenan is presently vice chair­ Goode j o i n e d the Norfolk man of the Board of Directors of Branch Office of Lawyers Title in the First Federal Savings and Loan 1961, after nine years in private Association of Pittsburgh. Recent­ law practice. Goode, who received ly he was elected a trustee of the his undergraduate and law degrees newly-organized Pittsburgh Realty from the University of Richmond, Investment Trust. was named Assistant Title Officer Kenan has been active in com­ in 1963. mittee work of the Pittsburgh Krock had been Assistant Title Real Estate Board and the Pitts­ Officer in Lawyers Title's Boston burgh chapter of the Mortgage Branch Office since it opened in Bankers Association. He also was 1962. A graduate of Harvard and active in the American Land Title Boston University Law School, Association. Krock was engaged in private He is a member of the American practice before joining Lawyers Judicature Society, Lawyers Club Title. of Allegheny County, Duquesne A LSO AT LAIVYE RS Club and St. Clair Country Club erbert A. Kenan, Lawyers in Pittsburgh. H Title Vice President, retired on December 31, 1965, after twenty years with the Company in Pitts­ burgh, Penn. SATURDAY EVENING In 1923 Herb Kenan was gradu­ POST ated from Duquesne University POSTER REPRODUCTIONS Law School and was admitted to $1.25 EACH the Pennsylvania Bar. Page 32 New Name For Old Company respect the Security Title Insur­ ance Corporation of California which became a wholly owned sub­ sidiary of General in 1964. The Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation has been liquidated and all of its assets have been transferred to its successor Se­ curity Title Insurance Company of Washington which has also legally assumed all outstanding obliga­ tions and liabilities of the Law­ yers Title Insurance Corporation including those incurred under its former name, Lawyers and Real­ tors Title Insurance Company. W. Sherwood Norton, the newly appointed Executive Vice Presi­ dent is a veteran California Title Manager and specialist in Real WHARTON T. FUNK Estate law. He is being trans­ awyers Title Insurance Cor­ ferred to Seattle from San Mateo, L poration of Seattle, Washing­ California where he has been serv­ ton (not to be confused with Law­ ing as Vice President and Man­ yers Title Insurance Corporation, ager of area operations for Se­ Richmond, Virginia) has a new curity Title Insurance Company. name ! Wharton T. Funk, Presi­ W. SHERWOOD NORTON dent of the Company, has an­ nounced that effective January 1, 1966 the firms new name is Se­ curity Title Insurance Company of Washington At the same time, Funk (known as "Chum" to practically everyone in the Title business) announced the appointment of W. Sherwood Norton as Executive Vice Presi­ dent. The Company was organized and commenced business in 1927 under the name Lawyers and Realtors Title Insurance Company. In July 1965 Lawyers Title Insurance Cor­ poration became the wholly owned subsidiary of the General Ameri­ can Corporation joining in that Page 33 NOVEL COUR E PLANNED IN OREGON An unusual course for Titlemen J-\. is being offered by the Ore­ gon Land Title Association in co­ operation with Multnomah College. Restricted to only twenty students, the Seminar is designed to pro­ vide a method of improving and supplementing the knowledge of those individuals desiring to VERNSTROM broaden their background in the Title Insurance Industry. Sched­ the policy ule for the course is as follows: E. Emerson Stickels President and Manager, Title Ab­ OREGON LAND stract Company of Eugene TITLE COURSE Mar. 8 THE TITLE I SUR­ Moderalor: ANCE POLICY Roy N. Vernstrom Kenneth R. Schramm President, Oregon Title Insur­ Vice President, Pacific Title In­ ance Company surance Company Feb. 8 H I ST 0 RY OF AB­ Mar. r 5 ESCROWS S1 RACTING AND TITLE Robert 0. Smith IN URANCE Secretary and Treasurer, Union Herbert A. Alstadt Title Insurance Company Vice President and Division l\lar 22 TECH IQUES OF BUS­ Manager, Title and Trust Di­ INESS DEVELOPMENT vision of Pioneer National C.H. McGirr Title Insurance Company. Assistant Vice President, Title Feb. rs TITLE PLANTS-Types, and Trust Division of Pioneer Building, Maintenance, Chaining National Title Insurance Com­ and examining pany John B. Eakin, Jr. Mar. 29 REGULATORY CON­ Vice President of Oregon Title TROL Insurance Company and Man­ F. Frank Howatt ager of Multnomah County Actuary, Insurance Division, De­ Branch partment of Commerce, State of Oregon Feb. 22 INSTRUMENTS AF­ FECTING TITLE TO REAL Apr. 5 MANAGEMENT OF A PROPERTY TITLE INSURANCE COM­ Dean Boyse PANY Assistant Vice President, First Fred McMahon National Bank of Oregon, President, Title Insurance Com­ Mortgage Loan Department. pany

Mar. r TITLE OPERATIONS­ Apr. 12 SUMMARY AND RE­ The preliminary title report, re­ VIEW co rding the instrument, issuance of Panel Page 34 Alabama Pioneer Honored

A lfred L. Staples, Mobile, Ala­ .I-\. bama Title man and civic leader, was honored recently in recognition of his fifty years on the Board of Directors of the Title Insurance Company. J. W. Goodloe, President of the firm, presented the 85-year old Staples with a framed certificate in recognition of his "golden an­ niversary". The certificate ex­ pressed to Staples the Board's sin­ J . W. Goodloe p resents certificate to A lfred L. Staples. cere appreciation for his devoted and invaluable service to the com­ munity. Mr. Staples has received nu­ merous business and civic honors during his long career including recognition of his work with the Mobile Carnival Association. A native of Mississippi, Staples has extensive interests in banking and real estate holdings in Jackson County, Alabama. He is a senior partner in the firm of Staples, Pake and Griffin and is President of the Home Savings and Loan Association. Staples' Grandfather, Colonel Alfred L. Staples is honored Alfred Lewis, was a member of on the occasion of his "Golden Anniversary". the Mississippi legislative assem­ bly that voted for secession in 1861. Page 35 June 15-16-17, 1966 Illinois Land Title Association Belair Motel, St. Louis, Missouri

Jun e 16-17-18, 1966 Land Title Association of Colorado and Wyoming Land Title Association Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

Jun e 1 6-17-18, 1966 New Jersey Title Insurance Association MEETING Seaview Country Club, Absecon TIMETABLE June 23-24-25, 1966 Idaho Land Title Association Flamingo Motel, Idaho Falls

Ma rch 21 , 22, 23, 24, 1966 June 26-27-28-29, 1966 MID-WINTER CONFERENCE Michigan Land rfitle Association American Land Title Association Boyne Highlands San Marcos Hotel & Country Club Chandler, Arizona July 10-11-12-13, 1966 New York Land 'fitle Association April 14-15-16, 1966 Otesaga Hotel, Cooperstown Texas Land Title Association Sheraton-Dallas, Dallas August 18-19-20, 1966 Montana Land Title Association April 28-29-30, 1966 Viking Lodge, Whitefish Arkansas Land Title Association Velda Rose Towers, Hot Springs August 25-26-27, 1966 Minnesota Land Title Association April 29-30, 1966 Howard Johnson Motel, St. Paul Oklahoma Land Title Association Skirvin Hotel, Oklahoma City September 9-10, 1966 Kansas Land Title Association, May 1-2-3, 1966 Ramada Inn, Topeka Iowa Land T itle Association The Town House, Cedar Rapids September 25-26-27, 1966 Missouri Land Title Association, May 10-11-12-13-14, 1966 Ramada Inn, Jefferson City California Land Title Association Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Phoenix, Arizona September 29-30; October 1, 1966 Wisconsin Title Association May 22-23-24, 1966 Park Motor Inn, Madison Washington Land Title Association Alderbrook Inn, Union October 2-3-4, 1966 Ohio Title Association Statler-Hilton Hotel May 15-16-17, 1966 Cleveland Pennsylvania Land T itle Association Skytop Lodge, Skytop October 16-17-18-19, 1966 June 8-9-10-11, 1966 ANNUAL CONVENTION Oregon Land T itle Association American Land Title Association Salishan Lodge, Gleneden Beach Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida WORRIED ABOUT AUT0~1ATION?

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