Dateline AustinBusiness Briefs
October 24, 1997
Commonwealth Land Title Company of Dallas Announces Affiliation with Local Law Firm
Commonwealth Land Title Company of
Dallas announced its affiliation with The Smith Law Firm, P.C., which
will serve as a new closing attorney office. The office is located at Two Lincoln
Centre in Dallas.
The Smith Law Firm is headed by Cheryl Rivera Smith, who has more
than 17 years of experience in the real estate industry. A resident of Dallas,
she holds a juris doctor degree from John Marshall Law School and a bachelor
of arts degree from the University of Texas at Dallas. A member of Dallas
Bar Association, Smith was recognized as the 1996 Pro Bono Attorney
of the year by the association.
Cheryl Rivera Smith is joined by Barbara Lindsay-Smith (no relation),
who holds a juris doctor from Texas Wesleyan School of Law and a bachelor
of arts degree form Dallas Baptist University. A resident of Dallas, Lindsay-Smith
has more than 19 years of experience in the real estate industry. She is a
recipient of the E. Gordon Smith award from the Texas Land Title Association.
Commonwealth Land Title Company of Dallas is a subsidiary of Commonwealth
Land Title Insurance Company.
Alamo Title Company Unifies Texas
Subsidiaries Under a Single Name
Alamo Title Company has changed the name of its Texas subsidiaries
to Alamo Title Company. The name change was part of a simultaneous action
by San Antonio-based Alamo Title to unify its subsidiaries in the major Texas
markets under a single name.
Alamo Title subsidiaries in the Austin, Fort Worth and Houston areas underwent
the name change, according to Alamo Title President Robert Rork.
Subsidiaries to be known as Alamo Title Company are Title Agency of Texas
(Houston), Heritage Title Company (Houston), Trinity-Western Title Company
(FortWorth), Title Agency of Austin, Guadalupe County Abstract Company, Title
Agency of Fort Bend and Southwest Land Title Company (Brazoria County).
Rork said local managers of the Alamo Title subsidiaries will remain.
Goode-Haddock on Real Estate Center
Advisory Committee
Celia Goode-Haddock has been appointed by Gov. George W. Bush to the
advisory Committee for the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.
Goode-Haddock graduated from Texas A&M University in 1972. She is owner
and president of University Title Company in College Station.
She is active in the Texas Land Title Association, Texas Association of Abstractors
and Title Agents, Bryan-College Station Builders Association and Bryan-College
Station Realtors Association.
Her honors and awards include the Bryan-College Station Chamber of Commerce
Lifetime Membership Award, Bryan-College Station Jaycees Award for Outstanding
Young Texan for Bryan-College Station, Leadership Brazos Alumni Association
Service Award, Outstanding Young Women of America, TLTA Region 3 Outstanding
Young Title Person, United States Chamber of Commerce Award for Outstanding
Sales, Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Who's Who among Rising Young
Americans and Who's Who of American Women.
The nine-member advisory committee represents various segments of the real
estate industry and general public. Goode-Haddock is one of three public members
on the committee.
The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University has been providing solutions
through research for more than 25 years. Funded solely by Texas real estate
licensees, the Center was created by the state legislature to meet the needs
of many audiences, including the real estate industry, instructors, researchers
and the general public.
Sid W. Terry Elected to Board of
Directors of Alamo Title Holding Company
Don Still, CEO of Alamo Title Holding Co., announced that Sid W.
Terry, executive vice president of Alamo Title Holding Co. for the Houston
region, was elected to the board of Directors of Alamo Title Holding Co. Alamo
Title Holding Co. is the parent corporation of Alamo Title Company, the title
insurance agent with offices in Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston and Austin,
and Alamo Title Insurance, the underwriter with agents throughout Texas and
New Mexico.
Terry has been active in the title insurance industry in Texas for more than
23 years. In 1985 he founded Title Agency of Texas, which was sold to Alamo
in 1993. He is currently managing the Houston operations of Alamo Title, which
include the companies formerly known as Title Agency of Texas, Heritage Title
and Southwest Land Title of Brazoria County. He has served as a director on
the board of the Texas Land Title Association, the Houston Board of Realtors,
the Texas Board of Realtors and the Texas Mortgage Bankers Association.
First American Title Announces
Appointments
Tom E. Blackwell has been named president and state manager of First
American Title Insurance Company of Texas. In his new capacity, Blackwell
will take a leadership role in the management of the state's operations.
Blackwell has 28 years of experience in the title industry. He began his
title career in 1969 as vice president of a title company in Lubbock. After
12 years in Lubbock, he spent the next seven years serving in various senior-level
positions at another title insurer. Blackwell joined First American in 1988
as senior vice president. He was named executive vice president seven years
later, a position he held until his recent promotion.
Blackwell holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Texas
Tech University. He is currently on the board of directors of the Texas Land
Title Association as well as its political action committee. In addition,
he also serves both as the vice chairman of the Association's Underwriter
Section Executive Committee and as a legislative committee chair.
Mark C. Greek has been appointed senior vice president and state agency
manager of First American Title Insurance Company of Texas. Greek brings 14
years of experience as state agency manager, executive vice president and
national sales manager for title insurance companies in Texas. His immediate
duties at First American will include the ongoing development and expansion
of the company's agency program.
Greek holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University
of Tennessee in Knoxville. As a member of TLTA, he has chaired the Public
Relations, the Legislative and the Long Range Planning committees and was
a member of the board of directors for four years. In 1986 Greek was honored
with TLTA's Outstanding Young Title Person award.
Jordan Named McSam's Title Representative
of the Year
Julie Jordan, senior vice president at American Title Company was
the recipient of McSam's Title Representative of the Year award for the third
year.
The McSam Award was created in 1979 by the Sales and Marketing Council of
the Home and Apartment Builders Association of Metropolitan Dallas in recognition
of sales and marketing excellence. The eminent McSam Award is given to builders,
developers and associates who have made a significant and creative contribution
in residential marketing through specified achievements during the preceding
year.
Jordan is very involved in the community and various organizations such as
the Women Council of Realtors. In 1996 she was a vital part of the team that
developed the New Home Buyers School for the Home and Apartment Builders Association
and has also received the "Top Gun" award for committee involvement
three times from the Sales and Marketing Council.
Jones Joins Stewart Organization
Dr. Ted C. Jones joins the Stewart organization as director of investor
relations for Stewart Information Services Corporation and as chief economist
for Stewart Title Guaranty Company. He will address the information needs
of stockholders, conduct on-going research and support economic and financial
analysis for the company.
Jones comes to Stewart after serving as chief economist at Texas A&M
University's Real Estate Center. Prior to that, he authored and taught the
valuation and appraisal section of the Bachelor of Commerce in Valuation and
Property Management in Lincoln College, University of Canterbury near Christchurch,
New Zealand.
Jones earned a Ph.D. in finance and a master's degree in land economics and
real estate from Texas A&M University. He holds a bachelor of science
from Colorado State University.
American Title Recognizes Linda
Cox
American Title Company selected Linda Cox, vice president business
development, as a member of the Lawyers Title National 1996 Sales Achievers
Club.
The Sales Achievers Club rewards and recognizes outstanding sales performance
on a company-wide basis while supporting the company's efforts to maintain
its highest standard as a customer focused, service-oriented and sales-driven
organization.
Cox is one of 26 salespeople nationwide whom Lawyers Title has recognized
for outstanding sales achievement in 1996. Cox surpassed corporate premium
goals and produced more than 20 percent of the American Title Plano branch
office's total annual revenue.
A native of Tulsa, Okla., Cox attended Monticello College in Illinois and
Tulsa University, subsequently beginning her real estate career in Tulsa as
a multimillion dollar producer with one of the area's top real estate firms.
Title Insurance Available in Mexico
Title insurance is available in Mexico due to the work of TLTA President-Elect
William G. Moize, president of Southwest Land Title Company of Dallas,
David C. Wiesley, senior vice president of the company, and David
Alkon, a Mexican architect.
The first title insurance products of their kind to be registered and approved
by the Mexican government are now offered by Title Insurance de Mexico, Agente
de Seguros, S.A. de C.V., a new firm with offices in Dallas, Texas, and in
Mexico City.
The owner and mortgagee policy coverages were adapted from American Land
Title Association (ALTA) policy forms and are designed for the purchase, leasing
and/or financing of real property throughout Mexico, including border and
beachfront properties. Issued either in Mexican pesos or U.S. dollars, the
policies can insure any recognized land interest in Mexico, including direct
ownership, leasehold and trust or beneficial ownership.
U.S. capital markets have been concerned about investing in Mexican real
estate due to the lack of title insurance. The new title insurance policies,
issued by Title Insurance de Mexico (TIM), are underwritten by Grupo Nacional
Provincial, S.A., Mexico's oldest insurance company with almost $2 billion
in assets, and reinsured by Chicago Title and Trust family of companies, the
largest title insurance group in the United States. These are the only title
insurance products registered with and approved by the Mexican Insurance Commission.
First American Purchases Donegan
Abstract
Robert Raetzsch and First American Title Insurance Company of Texas
announced that on July 1, 1997, First American Title acquired Donegan Abstract
Company.
Raetzsch, former owner of Donegan Abstract, has been named vice president
and of counsel to First American Title Insurance Company of Texas for the
San Antonio Division. Raetzsch will continue his association with the title
company on a daily basis as well as continue his civil law practice.
Donegan Abstract has two offices in Guadalupe County, one in Schertz and
one in Seguin. All 14 employees of Donegan will continue working for the new
company. Donegan Abstract was established in 1912 and over the years has,
along with its employees, been active in community and civic affairs and will
continue to do so in the future.
Rattikin Title Company Announces
Appointments
Jack Rattikin, Jr., president of Rattikin Title Company, has announced
the appointment of Mary Witt as vice president, director of residential
marketing, at Rattikin Title Company of Fort Worth. Witt has been with Rattikin
Title Company for two years as assistant vice president in charge of business
development- N.E. Tarrant County. Witt has been involved in the title business
for four years, and prior to her involvement in the title industry, she worked
in banking for six years.
Rattikin Title Company also announced the appointment of Shea Adrian
as assistant vice president, in charge of business development for Northeast
Tarrant County. Adrian has been involved in the title industry since February
1994, and has worked for Rattikin Title Company for two years.
In addition, Rattikin announced the appointment of Carolyn Hodnett
as branch manager/escrow officer of the company's Arlington office. Hodnett
has been serving the real estate industry for 20 years and has been closing
for 18 of those years.
Jackson, Werst Appointed at Title
Resources
A.F. "Jack" Jackson was named executive vice president of
Title Resources Guaranty Company (TRGC) by the Board of Directors during
the May meeting. Jackson is instrumental in developing business relationships
that directly benefit Title Resources' agents and their customers. In addition
to his new marketing responsibilities, he will continue to serve as the executive
vice president of operations and marketing, a position he has held since joining
the company in January 1994.
With a well-rounded operations background, Jackson's experience includes
budget planning, problem solving and supervising and motivating staff. He
is an honor graduate of the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Finance
degree.
TRGC also announced the hiring of Denise S. Werst as the escrow auditor
for Texas agents. She began working with Title Resources after having worked
as an escrow auditor with Old Republic Title Insurance Company for three years.
Werst has already begun auditing agents and intends to meet with all Texas
agents within a year. She will also be a contact to TRGC New Mexico agents
as well as serve on two New Mexico Land Title Association committees.
Werst previously worked for the FDIC as an assessment auditor. Her title
background was developed at title companies in both Uvalde, Texas, and Albuquerque,
New Mexico. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University in College Station
with a bachelor's degree in animal science and also has an accounting degree
from the University of Texas in San Antonio.
Werst will be based at the TRGC San Angelo office.
Title Resources Guaranty Company is a Dallas-based title insurance underwriting
company licensed to conduct business in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
Commonwealth of San Antonio Announces
Appointments
Commonwealth Land Title Company of San Antonio announces several appointments.
Joyce Killian has joined Commonwealth's North Central office as an
escrow officer. Killian has more than 11 years experience. Lynda SanMiguel
and Pamela Dix will be working in Commonwealth's main office. Rosie
Anguiano will be opening a branch for the company on the northwest side
of San Antonio, and Carol Parsell will be bringing her more than 29
years of experience to the company's mortgage title insurance business.
TDI Adds Documents to Web Site
The Texas Department of Insurance invites title industry professionals with
internet access to take a look at the TDI web site at<http:/www.tdi.state.tx.us>
After you log on, scroll down to the "Title" area. You will find
their working project with the following information currently available:
An Explanation of Title Insurance for Owners of Texas Residential Property,
Title Agents and Direct Operations listed by County, Application Forms for
Title Agents and Escrow Officers, Licenses, and Escrow Audit Forms and Minimum
Standards.
Miller, Thompson Assist TLTA Legislative
Efforts
Richard Miller, First American Title Insurance Company of Texas, and Beverly
Thompson, Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, won first and second
prize respectively in TLTA's Legislative Impact Program for the 1997 legislative
session.
The legislative impact program encouraged members to fill out and return
cards with information on legislators whom they personally knew. Miller and
Thompson passed out the most cards to industry colleagues who filled them
out and returned them.
TLTA appreciates the efforts of these members and all TLTA members who helped
in contacting legislators during the recent session.
Technology Survey Results Available
Earlier this year, TLTA conducted a survey of key contacts at member companies
to determine Texas title companies' use of technology. Results indicate that
a high percentage of TLA members use computers in their offices, and that
about 40 percent of those use PCs while 19.6 percent use mainframe computers
with terminals. About 40 percent have a combination of the two.
Many companies are beginning to use internet tecnologies such as broadcast
faxing and faxon-demand. Significant numbers of respondents indicated they
had e-mail access either through the internet or an online service provider.
The survey also includes information on the different types of industry software
and off-the-shelf software members are using. All survey participants received
a copy of the survey results free; copies are available to TLTA members for
$25 and to nonmembers for $50. To order a copy, you may fax yourself an order
form using TLTA Faxed Facts. Call 800/853-4839 and request document #2011.
Broadcast Faxing Saves You Money
You may have noticed an increase in the number of faxes you are receiving
from TLTA. Faxes are more timely than mailing in most cases and are generally
less expensive than mailed information.
Broadcast faxing, fax-on-demand and the TLTA website (http://www.tlta.com
) are examples of ways TLTA is striving to make your dues dollar go farther.
Please send news releases and information to Business Briefs, TLTA, 220
West Seventh, Suite 201, Austin, TX 78701.
In Memoriam
The title industry has been saddened in recent months by the passing of several
friends of the industry.
Drake McKee
William Drake McKee, past TLTA President, died July 22 at the age of 87.
McKee graduated from Oak Cliff High School in 1926 and attended Southern
Methodist University, where he received a Bachelor of Commerce. He then continued
to law school and received his juris doctorate. He practiced law in Dallas
until 1936, when he joined Dallas Title and Guaranty Company as a vice-president.
He was elected president in 1955 and served in that capacity until 1974. He
continued with the company until his retirement in 1989.
He was considered one of the southwest's leading experts in land title and
law. His distinguished career included serving as president of TLTA and vice-president
of the American Land Title Association. In 1967 he was named title person of
the Year by TLTA.
He served the community in a number of capacities, and was active in the
Dallas County Bar Association and the Highland Park Methodist Church. He was
preceded in death by wife Hassell. He is survived by his daughter Sheila Barrett
of Dublin, Ireland, son Steve McKee of Austin and seven grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the
American Heart Association.
Glynn McDonald
Glynn McDonald of Jackson County Title Company passed away May 23. McDonald
was active in TLTA and most recently served on the 1996-97 Technology Committee,
speaking at the association's first-ever Technology Conference.
Funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church in Edna on May 27.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Jackson County Library, 411 North
Wells, Edna, TX 77957.
Dallas Matthews
Dallas Matthews of Garland Smith Abstract Company passed away on July 14.
He was 64.
Matthews was a Galveston native but moved to Jasper 50 years ago. He and
his brother Nicholas "Nick" Matthews owned Garland Smith Abstract
Co. since the early 1950s. He also was a well-known realtor in the Jasper
area and owned and operated Matthews Realty for more than 40 years.
Funeral services were held July 16 at Forest Oaks Funeral Home in Jasper.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Jasper Volunteer Fire Department.
St. Mary's University School of Law and Texas Land Title Association
present the Seventh Annual
Texas Land Title Institute December 4-5, 1997 • Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort • San Antonio Earn Continuing Education Credit!
MCLE - 12 hours Space Is Limited! For More Information:
NATIONAL TITLE COMPANY seeking experienced individual as MANAGER OF OPERATIONS
over South Texas direct offices. Please reply with resume and salary history
to Blind Box N, TLTA, 220 West Seventh, Suite 201, Austin, TX 78701.
CLOSER/ESCROW ASSISTANT, positions available. Attorney Fee Office for a national
title insurance company is seeking an experienced closer and/or escrow assistant
to manage its Dallas closing office in the NW Hwy./Central Expwy. area. Self-starter,
motivated individuals desired, with established following. Good technical
and social skills required. Attractive compensation and benefits package available
for the right candidates. Attorneys officing in same location. All replies
will be held strictly confidential. Respond with resume to Boxholder at P.O.
Box 741542, Dallas, Texas 75374-1542.
Green Sheet Advertising 1997-98 New weekday seminars added for your convenience in Austin, Houston and
Dallas! These seminars will be held twice in each location, once on Friday
afternoon and again on Saturday morning.
Dec. 4-5, 1997 Texas Land Title Institute Jan. 23, 1998 Houston Regional Seminar Feb. 20, 1998 Dallas Regional Seminar March 2-6, 1998 Land Title School of Texas March 2-4, 1998 Advanced Title Issues Seminar April 18, 1998 South Texas Seminar June 4-6, 1998 88th Annual TLTA Convention TLTA presents the Seventh Annual Texas Land
Title Institute
It's not too late to register! Return your form today.
December 4-5, 1997 • Hyatt Hill Country Resort • San Antonio
Own the TLTA Basic Manual on CD-ROM!
A portable and convenient way to access Chapter Nine and the rates, rules
and forms.
Print out pages or cut and paste into your own documents.
FAX yourself an order form using TLTA Faxed Facts, 800/853-4839.
Request Document #2009
Texas Land Title Institute
A comprehensive course designed especially for real estate attorneys
Escrow Officers - 12 hours
CPAs, Realtors and Legal Assistants also eligible
Sell out expected! Register now! No on-site registration planned!
See the TLTA website at http://www.tlta.com
E-mail us at institute@tlta.com
Call TLTA at 800/472-1711 to receive a fax copy of the Institute brochure
and registration form
Cost is $25 for up to 30 words. Each additional word costs 50 cents. Blind
ad service costs an additional $25. Distributed monthly to TLTA members. Copy
deadline: 15th of each month. Send your typewritten copy with payment to:
TLTA Green Sheet, P.O. Box 149032, Austin, TX 78714-9032.
TLTA Calendar of Events
Hyatt Hill Country Resort
San Antonio
Jan. 24, 1998 Westin Galleria Hotel
Houston
Feb. 21, 1998 Hyatt Regency at Reunion Arena
Dallas
Doubletree Hotel
Austin
(held in conjunction with the Land Title School of Texas)
Doubletree Hotel
Austin
Sheraton South Padre
South Padre Island
Hyatt Regency Riverwalk
San Antonio