Mission & History

Mission

The members of MLTA are continually working to develop a professional association that benefits its members and assists their customers in achieving the process of conveying their real estate interests. Through education and legislation, MLTA strives to assist its members in making the transferring of real estate interest as efficient and economic as possible while adhering to the highest professional standards of our industry.

History

The Missouri Land Title Association was founded in 1907 as a professional association of abstracters throughout the State of Missouri.  Its purpose is to promote and protect their common interests, and those of the public, in facilitating the transfer of ownership of land.  The “Shield of Protection”, chosen at the first annual meeting, represents the commitment of each member to the highest degree of accuracy, integrity and stability in the title profession.  With the adoption of the Code of Ethics a standard of commercial and personal practice was established to uphold these high ideals.  Today the Association and its over 175 active member companies continue to fulfill this legacy of solid professionalism.

Recognizing its commitment to serve the public through personal growth within the industry, the Association annually sponsors the Land Title Institute.  Thousands of title professionals have had the opportunity to continue their training and education in the title industry through this multi-level program.  Seminars held throughout the State of Missouri, as well as the annual and midyear meetings, afford further growth and educational opportunities.  Additionally, a special committee keeps Association members informed of the latest advancements in automation and technology in order to promote the most efficient means of delivery of its products.  Members and associates are also kept up to date by Broadcast Messages, President’s Letters and e-newsletters. 

Individual outstanding achievements in the title profession are encouraged and recognized through the “Young Title Person of the Year”, the “Young Title Professional of the Year” and the “Jack Flippo Title Person of the Year Award” programs.
The Association and its members maintain a Speakers Bureau making available highly experienced title professionals to speak at local functions thereby promoting general knowledge of the industry and encouraging communication with related groups with common interests.

The Association and its members work closely with legislators in Missouri through its lobbyist, John Britton Associates, and a political action committee, to support legislation that upholds the high standards of the title industry and is in the public interest.  Through its affiliation with the American Land Title Association, national issues are monitored.

Since 1907 the Missouri Land Title Association and its members have maintained the highest standards of the title profession, vigorously worked to protect and promote the public interest, and diligently encouraged personal growth within the industry.  We are “The Professionals of the Title Industry”

Past Presidents

  • 1907 C. A. Vandivort
  • 1908 C. F. Lamkin
  • 1909 John T. Ricketts
  • 1910 Jessie P. Crump
  • 1911-1912 Orville D. Royce
  • 1913 B. F. Murdock
  • 1914 B. Rucker
  • 1915 Nelson C. Burch
  • 1916 Mark M. Anderson
  • 1917 Charles Smith
  • 1918 R. T. Brown
  • 1919 Emil Landman
  • 1920 William H. Barnes
  • 1921 (Not Available)
  • 1922 Guy Gibbs
  • 1923 McCune Gill
  • 1924 C. B. Vardemann
  • 1925 J. A. Riley
  • 1926 James M. Rohan
  • 1927 C. S. Hotaling
  • 1928 T. S. Simrail
  • 1929-1931 Charles D. Edison
  • 1932- 1933 William A. Lincoln
  • 1934-1935 S. C. Boggess
  • 1936-1937 H. F. Hansen
  • 1938-1939 Chet R. Platt
  • 1940-1941 Hosea J. Taylor
  • 1942-1943 Grover W. Devine
  • 1944 Fred W. Gunby
  • 1945 (War prevented Meeting)
  • 1946 William R. Barnes
  • 1947-1948 W. M. McAdams
  • 1949 Phil Simpich
  • 1950 Leland Selvy
  • 1951 John W. Ziercher
  • 1952 Roland B. Miller
  • 1953 John P. Turner
  • 1954 Henry C. Neff
  • 1955 Walter R. Douglas
  • 1956 Arthur L. Reppert
  • 1957 Keith R. Tolliver
  • 1958 John R. Wallace
  • 1959 Mason Schubel
  • 1960 Robert F. Lorenz
  • 1961 Judson L. Palmer
  • 1962 Milton J. Schnebelen
  • 1963 Robert O. Browning
  • 1964 Eugene Burns
  • 1965 Ralph Hunsche
  • 1966 Arthur Nystrom
  • 1967 Charles E. Hansen
  • 1968 Duard M. Boone
  • 1969 Borden D. Stoll
  • 1970 Phil M. Fitzgerald
  • 1971 William R. Barnes, Jr.
  • 1972 Phyllis Schnebelen
  • 1973 William B. Boyd
  • 1974 William H. Cohrs, Jr.
  • 1975 Warren H. Wemhoener
  • 1976 Elizabeth Linker
  • 1977 Joe Thomas
  • 1978 J. E. Barnes, Jr.
  • 1979 John C. Reppert
  • 1980 Betty Quisenberry
  • 1981 C. Wesley Ashcroft
  • 1982 Sam C. Sherwood, Jr.
  • 1983 Hugh B. Robinson
  • 1984 James W. Hicklin
  • 1985 Frances Morris
  • 1986 James E. Lewis
  • 1987 Cara (Schnebelen) Detring
  • 1988 Richard A. Mason
  • 1989 Robert G. Meckfessel
  • 1990 John N. Wiles
  • 1991 David E. Coffelt
  • 1992 Stephen C. Crawford
  • 1993 Jack F. Rodgers
  • 1994 Karen R. Brown
  • 1995 Thomas C. Kurzenberger
  • 1996 Nancy L. Good
  • 1997 Pamela S. Hart
  • 1998 James D. Hensley
  • 1999 Stephen V. Lewis
  • 2000 Donna L. Hayes
  • 2001 Orland J. Bollinger, Jr.
  • 2002 William Z. Johnson
  • 2003 Henry Eschenbrenner
  • 2004 Stephen C. Babbit
  • 2005 Michael J. Starrett
  • 2006 Robert G. Meckfessel
  • 2007 Nicole Hoff
  • 2008 Cheryl Williams
  • 2009 Jeffrey L. Reese
  • 2010-2011 Wendy Cromer
  • 2012 Marj Harper
  • 2013 Nancy J. LoRusso
  • 2014 Burton (Buzz) Shepard
  • 2015 Mary Jo Edmiston
  • 2016 David Townsend
  • 2017 Barbara L. Seerey
  • 2018 Chuck Bowman
  • 2019 Mark Foglesong
  • 2020 Mark Foglesong
  • 2021 Matt McBride
  • 2022-Incoming President Bob Swiss