William Jackson Rattikin Jr., 90, known for his leadership at Rattikin Title Co., in the Fort Worth community and in the industry, died Sept. 5. 

Known as Jack, he was described by his family as an attorney, explorer, dreamer, boater, astronomer, driven businessman and, above all, a devoted family man. 

“Dad was well known as a businessman,” said his son, Jack Rattikin III, who now leads the title company that bears the family name. 

But it wasn’t all business. There was plenty of time for family. 

“We never talked about business at the dinner table — ever. Not ever,” said Rattikin III. “We talked about family, what the kids are doing, what was going on at school, sports, all of that.” 

That rule had an impact, he said. 

“To this day we continue to feel such unity as a family,” he said. “I’ve tried my best to duplicate that with my own four kids.” 

His father’s commitment to family extended beyond dinnertime, Rattikin III said. Family vacations were epic, he said. 

In the 1970s, before it became popular, his father purchased a motorhome, which they called The Bus. The family spent six weeks during the summer traveling the country. 

“Our first trip, I was 9 or 10 years old, in 1973, and we left Fort Worth and hit every single national park we could,” he said. 

In the days before the internet, his father would be on the phone daily, checking in on work and sometimes flying home for a meeting. 

“It wasn’t easy back then but he had that commitment, and we had some great family experiences that we’ll never forget,” he said. “Those trips were epic.” 

For his son, the opportunity to see history and geography firsthand shaped the rest of his life.  

“I had the chance to see it, to be there, to experience it by going to all these historical sites,” he said. “It gave us a whole new understanding of our country and our world.” 

It was on one of these trips that Jack Rattikin discovered the pristine white beaches of Destin, Florida. That was the beginning of frequent family trips to the area that have continued to be a tradition in the Rattikin family.

The Rattikin family legacy has been an important part of Fort Worth’s history as well. 

Rattikin III’s grandfather, Jack Rattikin Sr., founded the firm in 1943 after helping Stewart Title open title insurance branches around the state. He ventured out on his own by purchasing a title plant, a set of comprehensive records of property transfers in Tarrant County going back to 1845, the year Texas became a state.

Over its 81 years, Rattikin Title has closed on a large number of properties in downtown Fort Worth. 

Jack Rattikin Jr. did not originally want to be part of the family business, but instead hoped to become an electrical engineer, his son said. A graduate of R.L. Paschal High School, he earned degrees at the University of Texas and the UT School of Law in Austin. He then joined the U.S. Army, ascending to the rank of captain while overseeing railroad operations for the Transportation Corps in Virginia. After his service, Rattikin Jr. returned to Texas to practice criminal law for a short time before joining the family business in 1969.

Rattikin III said his father’s passion for the industry filtered down to him. 

“He never treated real estate as a commodity to be bought or sold or just a financial transaction,” said Rattikin III. “What he cared about was ownership of land, the chance to own a piece of Texas, to actually own the land, and in our role in ensuring that that investment, that ownership of a piece of God’s beautiful country, is secure and a good investment for folks. It’s about researching the title, learning the history of the property, and passing on that history to a new owner.” 

Rattikin said his father was very hands-on and would get involved in every aspect of the process. His passion for detail, and insistence on doing things the right way, led to an outstanding reputation in the business community. 

“He instilled that work ethic in his family and the company’s employees that lasts to this day,” he said. 

Like Rattikin Sr., Rattikin Jr. was president of both the state and national title associations, as were Jack Rattikin III and his brother, Jeffrey. 

“We’re only the first three-generation family in the title insurance industry to have been president of both the Texas and American Land Title Associations,” he said. 

Serving in leadership roles was always viewed as important, Rattikin III said. 

“You had to contribute to your industry and help lead the industry,” he said. “That’s sort of expected.” 

Jack Rattikin Sr. was preceded in death by his wife, Glenda; his father, William Rattikin Sr.; his mother, Annie Lea Rattikin; and his sister, Ann Rattikin Thurman. He is survived by his son Jack Rattikin III and wife Laura; his daughter Alicia Rattikin Lindsey and husband Stephen; his son Jeffrey A. Rattikin; and his daughter Allyson Rattikin Grona and husband Brian. Jack is also survived by 11 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren (with another on the way); and the Bill Thurman family of Austin.

Memorials may be made to the First Street Methodist Mission of First United Methodist Church in Fort Worth or to a charity of your choice.