Former ALTA President McConville Passes Away
February 14, 2012
Clarence "Mac" McConville, who served as ALTA president in 1977-78, passed away at the age of 86.
McConville also served as ALTA treasurer from 1979 through 1981 and was named an honorary member of the association.
“C.J. McConville was an outstanding leader of the land title industry,” said Bill McAuliffe, who served as executive vice president of ALTA from 1965 to 1984. “He was very active particularly with respect to the development of ALTA forms and ALTA responses to proposed federal legislation impacting the industry.”
Roger Bell, who followed McConville as ALTA president, said he and his wife, Helen, spent a lot of time with McConville and his wife, Gloria, during their time with ALTA.
“When you think of Mac, you also think of Gloria,” Bell said. “They were a match made in heaven. Mac and Gloria were beloved by the title folks in Minnesota and throughout the industry. Mac was smart, a great title man, who was full of humor, music and song.”
While attending the University of Minnesota, McConville launched his 45-year career in the title industry by working part-time at Title Insurance Company of Minnesota (Minnesota Title) as a junior abstracter in 1947. He was made assistant secretary in 1950, assistant vice president in 1952 and vice president in 1955. From 1971-1987, McConville served as president of Minnesota Title and was chief executive officer from 1972-1988. He also served as a senior vice president of Old Republic International Corp., which acquired Minnesota Title in 1978.
Rande Yeager, chairman and CEO of Old Republic Title Insurance Co., recollected McConville's patented smile and his one-motion clap that thrilled audiences at ALTA's annual convention.
"Minnesota Title was Mac and Mac was Minnesota Title," Yeager said. "He was a prince of a man and loved by all. Our hearts will always have a space in them named Mac."
McConville also served as the president of the Minnesota Land Title Association (MLTA) in 1961-62 and the National Title Underwriters Association. He also was named an honorary member of MLTA.
Richard Welshons, secretary/treasurer of MLTA, described McConville as a "giant in the title industry" in both Minnesota and on a national level.
"His charm and wit made him friends everywhere he went," Welshons said. "He was a champion of the title industry and grew Minnesota Title from a regional underwriter into a national player. He was a loving family man and dear friend to many. He will be greatly missed."
McConville enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and was commissioned as an ensign. He served on an aircraft carrier in the Far East for 10 months and was stationed in Minneapolis for a brief time before his release to inactive duty at the rank of lieutenant junior grade.
In the fall of 1946, he attended the University of Minnesota, obtained his law degree and was admitted to the bar in 1950.
McConville maintained strong relationships in outside interests, such as, Toastmasters, Jaycees (local, national and international) and the Minneapolis Aquatennial.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Rio Verde Community Church at 11 a.m. Feb. 16, 2012. Following the service, a reception will be held at the Rio Verde Country Club. Donations are requested in lieu of flowers to Habitat for Humanity, Rio Verde Chapter or Hospice of the Valley.
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Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or [email protected].