Maxey Dell Moody Jr.

Maxey Dell "Max" Moody Jr. (June 15, 1913 – December 3, 1987), also known as M. D. Moody Jr., was the president and CEO of M. D. Moody & Sons, Inc. from 1950 to 1987 and the founder of MOBRO Marine, Inc. As President and CEO he diversified and expanded M. D. Moody, firmly establishing it as a prominent business in the construction industry. His father’s business under his leadership became the oldest family-owned construction equipment distributor in the United States, and at one time the largest crane dealer in the southeast.^[1]

Moody was a founding member of the Jacksonville Businessmens Associations, a member of St. Vincent's Medical Centers Board of Trustees and on the Board of directors for the Florida National Bank Holding Company.^[2][3]

Early life

Max Moody Jr. was born on June 15, 1913 in Jacksonville, Florida, to Ethel and Maxey Dell Moody His mother Ethel Moody (née Müller) was born in Jacksonville whose father had immigrated to the United States from Germany in the 1870s. The same year that Max Jr. was born, his father Max established a construction distributor business called M. D. Moody in Jacksonville, Florida.^[4] Max attended Andrew Jackson High School and graduated in 1926.

Marriage and family

On June 18, 1933 Max married Dorothy in Jacksonville. They had seven children: Maxine Rowland, Maxey Dell Moody III, Elaina Moran, Angel Throop, Thomas "Boyd" Moody, Richard Moody, Joseph "Joe" Moody.^[5]

Career

Military service

After graduating from Andrew Jackson High School Max enrolled in the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The Naval Academy had a rule that graduates could not marry until two years after graduation. Max decided to drop out and marry Dorothy Boyd who he had met in Jacksonville.^[6] After Max left the United States Naval Academy he went to work for the United States Army Corps of Engineers on a levee-building project around Lake Okeechobee. He decided to work for the Corps of Engineers because his father was not happy with him for dropping out of the Naval Academy. Max worked on a dredge and killed alligators to sell their hides because there was nothing else to do.^[7]

M. D. Moody & Sons

Max operating an American crane around 1968

Max, along with his brother Muller Pearson Moody, worked at their father's business M. D. Moody in the late 1930s. The business had become the top distributor of American Crane’s products in the United States and helped build military bases in Florida during World War II. With Max and Muller at M. D. Moody it then became incorporated as M. D. Moody & Sons, Inc.

In 1949 Max Moody, Sr. died of a heart attack. Max became President and Muller became Vice President to continue their father's company. Max then moved M. D. Moody from downtown Jacksonville to Philips Highway. M. D. Moody & Sons, Inc., under the leadership of Max began to grow exponentially by expanding with branches in Tampa and Fort Lauderdale in the 1950s.^[8]

Diversification of M. D. Moody

By the 1970s it had diversified with several subsidiaries such as Moody Machinery Corp. and Moody Brothers.^[9] By the 1980s M. D. Moody & Sons, Inc., had become globally the 10th largest crane rental business.^[10] It further diversified with two additional subsidiaries called Moody Machinery Corp. near Atlanta, Georgia and Moody Truck Center.

MOBRO Marine

Max with a MOBRO barge in 1985

In 1962 he established Moody Brothers in Green Cove Springs, Florida. Moody Brothers correlates to Max and Muller Moody as the Moody brothers and the & Sons of M. D. Moody. Max chose to have Moody Brothers in Green Cove Springs because the growth of downtown Jacksonville had no room for Moody Brothers.^[11] Moody Brothers operates a fleet of over 100 barges, tugboats, and the rental of heavy marine construction equipment.

By 1987 Moody Brothers became a corporate spin-off of M. D. Moody & Sons, Inc., and was incorporated as MOBRO Marine, Inc. In September 1987 his business Moody Brothers made national headlines when one of its barges called the MOBRO 4000 was carrying garbage from New York City.^[12] It was turned away from three countries and seven states making everyone wonder who would take this garbage and raising more awareness about the environment. Johnny Carson also used a running gag on his show The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson of a map tracker for where the MOBRO 4000 was at.^[13] When it returned to Green Cove Springs it had to be "all dolled up" according to Max Moody Jr. which was beyond its extended period of time on the high seas.^[14]

Death

In 1976 at 63 years old Max had to have heart bypass surgery. Ten days later he returned to work to ensure that his business was still continuing its exponential growth. Max chose not to retire because he felt that in retirement you become "rusty." 11 years later Max's health began to decline and on December 3, 1987 Max died of a heart attack at the age of 74. He left behind his life's work of M. D. Moody & Sons and seven children.^[15]

Personal interests

While always having an interest in boating he acquired the USS SC-1332 that was once used in the United States Navy and then made it his fishing boat called the Dinky.^[16]

Legacy

Max's sole legacy, like his father’s, lies with the business M. D. Moody & Sons, Inc., and MOBRO Marine, Inc. His strong leadership ensured M. D. Moody & Sons, Inc., the status as the largest family-owned construction equipment distributor in the United States and the oldest road equipment distributor in Florida. His sons became more involved in M. D. Moody & Sons after Max's death with Maxey Dell Moody III as President and CEO, Boyd Moody as Vice President, and Richard Moody as President of Moody Truck Center. Max's grandsons also became more involved in MOBRO Marine with John Rowland as President and Maxey Dell Moody IV as Vice President.

Notes

References

• Weaver, Delores Barr and J. Wayne Weaver (2001). "Jacksonville: Crown of the First Coast". Towery Publishing, Inc.
• Gianoulis, Deborah and Lawrence Smith (1998). "Jacksonville: Reflection of Excellence." Towery Publishing, Inc.