1968 and still no job....

Then came the two weeks that changed our lives. One Monday evening I received a call from a Lowell Oneal from the Motel 6 in Scottsdale, Ariz. I tried to cut him off. He was calling from a new motel 6 which had just opened, and I assumed he had a complaint about the motel or the service. I had received a few calls at home over the years, usually from some big shot wanting special treatment. An example was Bill Lear (with the Lear aircraft). He and his crew were staying at our motel in Reno while attending the air races. Motel 6 in Reno and Las Vegas did not accept personal checks and he wanted me to tell the manager to accept his check. I tried to explain the policy and his reply was "Don't you know who I am?". I said yes and I'm sure the local banker will also know you. My job is to rent rooms - his is to cash checks.

Mr. Oneal however would not let me hang up and he finally got through with the fact that he wanted to talk to me personally. He was from Illinois and wanted to start a chain like Motel 6back there and he had asked the manager in Scottsdale if he knew of anyone who knew about operations who was no longer with the company. The manager gave him my name. He asked if I would mail him some information on myself and he in turn would send us his financial statement . On Friday, we received the package and I was very impressed. Oneal owned and operated six large discount stores called Cousin Fred's and he was very well heeled. Oneal called us on Saturday and said he had received our package and was ready to proceed. He wanted me to fly back to the mid West and he would pay my way. I told him that Margaret and I were a team - it was both or none. He said OK, but I refused to let him pay for Margaret. We felt by paying for her ourselves, it put us on an even keel and with no obligations. Thank goodness for our American Express card - although it would be due and payable the next month!
We flew out the next day for Champagne, Illinois arriving about 6.30pm. The airport was about 2 miles from town and it had been snowing and the road was wet and muddy. Lowell and his wife Veleta arrived - he with business suit, tie and she in a full length mink. We got in their big black Cadillac and started on the trip back into town. It goes without saying that we (Margaret and I) were a bit nervous over this meeting. Our future was at stake. Veleta must have sensed our nervousness for she suddenly said she was glad he was driving back at a normal speed - into the mud holes and all. She said they were forever getting out to the airport because Lowell was trying to keep the car clean. He must have wanted to impress you, she said. Suddenly we both relaxed and began to enjoy it.

We spent Sunday night at their home and on Monday were taken to Bloomington, Illinois where he had his main office and one of the stores. We met his general manager (son in law) and visited their very impressive home. We spent the second night at the ONeals and Tuesday about noon, the four or us boarded the train they call "The City of New Orleans" and traveled south to Carbondale (home of Southern Illinois University). It was a non stop trip, and we rode in the parlor car (reclining seats) 200 miles in about 90 minutes. The Oneals had a second home there which we would use for the balance of our stay to meet the rest of the backers.

We met them that evening at a dinner we all attended. A fancy dinner house, where we were joined by Don and Penny Geary and Bob and Wanda Brewer. Don was a large contractor/investor and Bob Brewer owned and operated two family restaurants - one in Herrin and one in Carbondale. Bob owned the property next to his restaurant in Carbondale, which is where they wanted to build their first motel. It was a pleasant dinner and we were asked a lot of questions - we were truly the focal point.

The next morning the Oneals left and returned to Champagne and we were invited to dine with the Geary's that night in Mt. Vernon - another 'get to know you' visit.
Oneal returned on the Thursday and we spent the evening with him. After dinner he produced a bottle of scotch and we were asked to join him in some friendly drinking. Margaret and I were careful and paced out drinks - I wish I could say the same for Mr. Oneal!

Friday: We were to meet with the principals for an offer or no offer at 2pm at the drive-in/family restaurant next to the proposed site for the first motel. We showed up and they closed off the dining room for our meeting place. We discussed a lot of things and then they asked us what we wanted. Margaret and I had gone over it thoroughly so I was able to spell out our terms and wrote it on a napkin. We were asked to leave the room so they could discuss the proposal, and in twenty minutes we were called back in and told we had a deal. We all initialed the napkin!!

We were told at this time that part of the hold up was that Oneal had a brother who lived in L.A. and he had made an appointment with Paul Greene and Bill Becker that morning. They were waiting for his call on the results. This was when we found out that Paul had told him that I had not done a good job and he was unsure regarding my honesty (no wonder we lost those other jobs). But Oneal, Geary and Brewer took the position that they didn't believe it. The success of the business and the fact that I was there five years belied it.

So a deal was made. We had a job. We had a future. They were also aware of the fact that we needed employment as soon as possible and it would be some time before they could line up the financing, get the prints, permits, etc. so we agreed to do some chores for Oneal's company while waiting for things to develop.

We returned to Santa Barbara and prepared to move to Illinois.....