LONGTIME RECORDER TO RETIRE IN BENTON

BENTON -- John Bollinger, Missouri's oldest working recorder of deeds in both age and length of service, is completing his last month on the job.

"It's time to retire," said Bollinger, 76. "I don't know what I'm going to do. I may want to go fishing."

Bollinger became Scott County recorder Jan. 1, 1955.

After coming to the office and doing the same thing for all those years, he will find it difficult to take it easy.

"I've been here all the time," he said. "I don't miss a day."

Handling the mail is one of the constants in Bollinger's job. His office receives correspondence from lawyers, banks, loan companies, businesses and anyone dealing with real estate.

As part of his daily routine, he also inspects the deeds to see if they are eligible for recording.

"There's been a lot of hard work over the years," Bollinger said.

His office records military discharges, marriage licenses and any paperwork affecting Scott County real estate, such as deeds of trust and financing statements.

Bollinger came to the job with experience. He was hired as deputy recorder in January 1943 by Edna Scott, whose husband, Tom Scott, had won the Democratic primary election in August 1942, but then died before the November general election. She was selected to take her husband's place.

The decision to work in the recorder's office was easy for Bollinger. He had been driving a Standard Oil truck for $56 a month. His salary as deputy recorder was $100 a month -- a sizable increase.

In 1943 all the records were typed on a large typewriter, which handled a heavy bond paper measuring about 11 1/2 by 18 inches. Bollinger could type 80 words a minute and his first work is visible in Record Book 132.

Bollinger was drafted in November 1944 and entered the U.S. Navy. Three other county officials were also drafted at the time. Circuit Court Clerk Allen Hubbard and Deputy County Clerk Buck Bradford entered the Navy, while County Clerk Buzzie Watkins was inducted into the Army. Bollinger has outlived all three.

After his discharge from the Navy in January 1946, Bollinger went to work for the Moore-Harris Abstract Co. in Benton.

He was recalled to duty in 1950 for the Korean War as a communications technician. After his discharge in February 1952, he returned to work as a deputy for county recorder Jimmy Law of Sikeston.

When Law didn't seek re-election in 1954, Bollinger campaigned for the post and won the Democratic primary, taking every precinct but the one where his opponent lived.

His only closely contested election in 40 years was the Democratic primary in 1966.

When he took office in 1955, Bollinger's salary was $200 a month. In 1969, it had doubled to $400 a month. Now the salary for his position is about $2,500 a month.

The changes in his office have been technological advances and better equipment, along with fee increases.

Marriage licenses cost $1.50 in 1955; now they cost $45. A photostat machine for copying records was added in 1963 and a microfilm camera and reader were installed in 1974.

When he was elected, Bollinger had one clerk helping him. For the past four years, three clerks have been assigned to his office.

One of the best parts of his job is meeting people, Bollinger said.

His office has always been in the northeast corner of the courthouse's first floor. He said he's met a lot of people getting marriage licenses and he usually tries to kiss the bride for good luck.

Bollinger said he plans to catch up during the last four weeks so the new recorder won't have any extra work to do.

He has to close out all the books before the end of the year. He said he'll probably sort the mail one last time on Dec. 30 just to finish the job.