Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Co.

Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Co. (SWD) was one of the largest mortgage banking, real estate and insurance firms in the Southeast. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, they were founded as Stockton, Whatley in the late 1800's. At its' height, SWD had a real estate portfolio worth $100 million and a mortgage loan servicing portfolio of $3.8 billion, providing services in Florida, Georgia and Alabama.

The original partners were James R. Stockton Sr., Brown L. Whatley and Joseph W. Davin.

SWD was the first developer of Ponte Vedra Beach in the early 1930's. [ [http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/060207/nes_174061648.shtml Florida Times-Union: May 31, 2007-When Ponte Vedra was just a rural beach by Maggie Fitzroy] ]

The San Marco section of Jacksonville was developed by the Stockton Whatley Company in the 1920's. [ [http://www.eujacksonville.com/pages/04-05-07/sanmarcoliving.htm EU Jacksonville: April 5, 2007-Historically Ours San Marco] ] Telfair Stockton developed the land for the business district and designed it with the Piazza di San Marco of Venice, Italy in mind. Most of the original architectural details in the shopping area are still preserved today.

J.J. Daniel became president of SWD in 1960. He led development of the Deerwood section of Jacksonville, and the companion Deerwood Country Club, the most exclusive gated communities at the time and for many years thereafter.

In 1964, SWD was purchased by the General American Oil Company, at the time one of the largest independent oil companies in the nation, with worldwide operations and interests. [ [http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/GG/dogrm.html The Handbook of Texas online: GENERAL AMERICAN OIL COMPANY] ]

Don Davis was named General Manager of Deerwood Country Club in 1965, a position he held for over 20 years. In 1978, Davis was promoted to Operations Vice President of SWD, responsible for all Deerwood Club operations, including the sale of residences and home sites.

William F. Aberly joined SWD as Financial Vice President in 1965 and retired as Chairman and CEO in 1984 prior to the company's dissolution. [ [http://www.legacy.com/NewBernSJ/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=109882875 New Bern (NC) Sun-Journal: May 18, 2008-Obituaries/William Franklin Aberly] ]

Phillips Petroleum Company acquired SWD early in 1983 in the merger of the General American Oil Company of Texas into its Phillips Oil Company subsidiary, which announced its intention to sell the unit. [ [http://www.conocophillips.com/about/who_we_are/history/phillips/index.htm#1966 Conoco-Phillips: Phillips Company History-New Discoveries, Innovations and Challenges: 1966-1986] ]

SWD's real estate holdings of 50,000+ acres were purchased by Herb Peyton and Gate Petroleum for $60 million in cash. [Newboy: the Autobiography of Herbert Hill Peyton, Herbert Hill Peyton, ISBN: 0965827704; published by Gate Petroleum Co, January 1997 page 171]

The First National Bank of Boston purchased the mortgage banking business of SWD, for $120 million in cash. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DE5DB1E38F930A15756C0A965948260&sec=&spon= New York Times: May 23, 1983-Boston Bank Acquisition] ]

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