page_title: M. D. Moody & Sons, Inc.
section_title: M. D. Moody: 1915-1949
hierarchical_section_title: M. D. Moody & Sons, Inc. / History / M. D. Moody: 1915-1949
caption_attribution_description: English: Photo of Max Moody Sr. delivering equipment in St. Augustine in 1921. The photograph was taken on George Street.
context_page_description: M. D. Moody & Sons, Inc. was a privately owned construction equipment distributor and heavy machinery service company headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. The firm was established in 1913 by Maxey Dell Moody who wanted to serve the needs of road construction businesses by distributing construction equipment. In 1946 the firm was incorporated to M. D. Moody & Sons, Inc. and by 1980 under Maxey Dell Moody, Jr. diversified into the Moody companies Moody Truck Center, Moody Light Equipment Rental, Moody Machinery Corporation, Moody Fabrication & Machine, Dell Marine, and MOBRO Marine, Inc. In 2009 M. D. Moody was forced to file for Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code bankruptcy and became defunct in 2013. As of 2020 the three Moody companies still in operation are MOBRO Marine, Inc., Dell Marine and Dell Marine Tug and Barge.
  M. D. Moody once stood as the oldest family owned construction equipment distributor in the United States, the oldest road equipment company in Florida and at one time the largest American Crane dealer in the world. It was at one time one of the few companies between South Florida and New Jersey that rented barges.
context_section_description: M. D. Moody was established in 1913 by Maxey Dell Moody in Jacksonville, Florida. Maxey was the only employee in its early years performing all duties as salesman, mechanic and parts manager. The purpose of M. D. Moody was to sell construction equipment to road builders giving an early slogan of the company as "Road Building and Construction Machinery." M. D. Moody was also affiliated with the Cyclone Fence Company, a subsidiary of U.S. Steel, and J.D. Adams & Company. Lines represented by M. D. Moody in those early years included Adams road graders, Best Manufacturing Company tractors, Hesselman engines, Cummins and P&H cranes. In 1924 M. D. Moody sold 238 P&H Draglines. During the 1920s M. D. Moody entered the marine equipment business by manufacturing their own marine engines and then with the Waukesha Engine distributorship. Maxey's brothers Adelbert and Slomon joined M. D. Moody in assisting the shipping and service parts departments.
  During the Great Depression, the company suffered but still managed with 10 employees. In the 1930s, M. D. Moody's marine business expanded with the addition of barges and tugboats. The growth of M. D. Moody in the 1930s led to the company becoming less affiliated with the Cyclone Fence Company and more focused on being an independent company successful in the construction industry. During World War II the firm expanded to meet the needs of wartime construction. M. D. Moody supplied the equipment needed for the expanding military bases in Florida. In 1942 M.D. Moody was appointed as the Florida distributor for American Hoist & Derrick Company, which was American Crane and is now a part of Terex Cranes. Moody’s large sales of American Cranes and draglines vaulted it into the number one position among American’s distributors worldwide.
  In 1946, M. D. Moody was incorporated to M. D. Moody & Sons, Inc. when Maxey's sons Max Moody, Jr. and Muller Pearson Moody joined the company. Maxey continued as head of M. D. Moody & Sons until his death in 1949 leading to Max Moody, Jr. becoming the CEO.
caption: Maxey Dell Moody (right, in black vest) delivering an Adams road grader in 1923.
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