Floyd County Recorder’s room dedicated to Max Mason Sr.

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November 10, 2012

Floyd County Recorder’s room dedicated to Max Mason Sr.

Real estate title professional died earlier this year at 98

By CHRIS MORRIS chris.morris@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Sat Nov 10, 2012, 11:03 AM EST

NEW ALBANY — The Floyd County Recorder’s Office took on a new name Friday morning.

Well, sort of.

The office still bears the recorder’s name, but the working room inside has a new name — the Max C. Mason Sr. Deed Room. The official dedication took place Friday morning in honor of a man who spent hours each day in the recorder’s office as a title abstractor.

“”Most of his working hours were in this office,” said his grandson Chris who has followed in his grandfather’s footsteps.

Mason started real estate title work in 1936 and opened the Southern Indiana Abstract Co. in 1948 which his grandson still operates today.

Recorder Lois Endris said dedicating the room in Mason’s honor was a fitting tribute to a man who was a fountain of information and who always reached out to help others.

“We knew we wanted to do something in his honor but we wanted to wait until the election was over,” Endris said. “We wanted to make him the focus.”

Mason died June 29 at age 98. Chris Mason said his grandfather worked into his 90s and was still active until a few days before his death.

In fact, Mason retired in his 70s for three months, then said he had done everything he wanted to do and went back to work.

“We miss his knowledge ... he was the go-to guy,” Endris said. “Chris has now stepped up to the plate. Max had so much historical knowledge when it came to real estate. It was his passion.”

The Mason family also donated a 1924 map of New Albany to the recorder’s office and it is now hanging on the wall next to the photo and plaque honoring Max Sr.

“Max would be pleased, but he was so humble,” said his widow Kay of the tribute. “He liked to worked and he liked that Chris carried on the business.”

Kay worked in the recorder’s office for 32 years.

“He was an amazing fellow,” Chris said. “I learned the ropes from the two [Max Mason Sr. and Max Mason Jr.] of them. It’s a unique business. You can’t go to college for this business.”