DERAILED IN FISHERS

DERAILED IN FISHERS

By Duncan

 

It’s been years since I have seen Dave. 

PHOTOGRAPHER:  STEVE BARRY 2007

 

Dave and I first met at an A.L. Williams Seminar. Arthur L. Williams's father passed away from a heart attack, leaving the family underinsured with a whole life insurance policy. Five years later, Arthur learned about the concept of term life insurance. He harbored bitterness about what had happened to his father and his family. On February 10, 1977, Art established the company A.L. Williams & Associates.

I was a mortgage lender, and Dave was a pharmacist. We were young and eager to make a difference, so we became “Associates” (Salespeople) to share the good news that there was another way to beat the system.

A.L. Williams' pitch was to dump your whole life insurance, buy term life insurance, invest the difference, and build wealth. Dave and I both bought into the concept. 

Selling life insurance door-to-door is more challenging than it sounds. Today, A.L. Williams's company is One Primerica (NYSE: PRI). One can only assume Art sold the company and made a tidy profit. Dave and I continued to work in mortgages and pharmacy.

What better way to catch up on our lives than to have lunch? In the old days, I would say, "Have your girl call my girl and schedule lunch." However, being retired, Dave most likely doesn’t have a "My Girl." Come to think of it, we are both retired, and neither of us has a “Girl.”

Wait a minute. There might be an AI program that could read my mind and do that for me. I keep hearing that artificial intelligence (AI) will take over the world. I sat in front of my desktop computer and focused on my computer screen. I sent a telepathic message. “Hook me up with a program.” I held my breath as the little wheel on my computer screen began to turn. And suddenly…

The AI Schedule Generator creates personalized schedules tailored to your lifestyle and preferences, whether for work, gym, diet, or weddings. We already know you want lunch with Dave Blair. By understanding your specific needs, the AI Schedule Generator ensures your schedule aligns with your circadian and natural rhythms.

The words "lifestyle, preferences, and specific needs" were slightly off-putting. I don't want this AI program to know much about my lifestyle and preferences. What if I wanted to run for President of the United States? I decided to call Dave myself.

"Want to have lunch and catch up?"

"Sure, where and when?"

"There is a new 116-room, thirty-million-dollar building in downtown Fishers called the Nickel Plate Hotel. I hear it’s quite fancy. It has a dining room, a bar, and even a pub. How about we check it out?"

The lobby of the Nickle Plate Hotel.  

Gift area of the Nickle Plate Hotel. 

I noticed the young woman standing behind her computer at the reservation desk. I walked over and asked.  

"How's business?"

"Oh, it's great, we are very happy."

When I heard that response, I thought, ‘We’ have a wonderful employee behind the reservation desk. Full of life and ready to offer the quality service that the Dora Hotel Company, managed by the Hilton Tapestry Collection, is expected to deliver, I was impressed.

"Care to share your occupancy rate?"

"I don't mind, we are at 86%."

"Wow, the hotel is brand new (March 2024), and you're 86% full? Are most of the guests' construction types or other?"

"I don't believe we have any construction workers staying with us. Eli Lilly, Roche, and others stay with us."

I left the conversation thinking, "It’s unusual for an employee to answer questions so quickly and with authority." The occupancy rate must be on everyone's mind. You expect a return on investment when you invest thirty million in a building. There is no profit if 116 rooms remain unoccupied. 

The rooms are listed online between $137.00 and $179.00, but don’t forget about the lodging tax, stay tax, room tax, tourist tax, or hotel tax. In Indiana, that number is (5%) five percent.

James E. Dora Sr.       Tim Dora

Who or what is Dora? The company started as General Hotels Corporation, founded by James E. Dora, Sr., in 1962. Over the years, the family has managed over twenty hotels at one time or another. 

Jim was deeply devoted to Indianapolis. He served on the Capital Improvements Board and played a key role in developing Market Square Arena, The Hoosier Dome, and the relocation of the Colts from Baltimore to Indianapolis in 1984. 

Sadly, James passed away on June 27, 2016, at the age of eighty. Tim represents the company's leadership following the resolution of a family lawsuit regarding fiduciary responsibilities at the time of James E. Dora's passing.

I was seated in the dining room, waiting for Dave to arrive. Gabby, my waitress, brought me a tall glass of water and asked if I needed anything. I told her I was waiting for a guest to join me. 

Dave entered the room and sat across from me in a booth. 

Duncan - Dave Blair

I asked Gabby if she could take a picture with my Samsung S-23 cell phone. Dave and I quickly transitioned from discussing the late 1970s to today. We chatted about family, travel, business, and our future plans. 

When Gabby came to our table, she asked if we wanted to order. I inquired about the soup of the day, which turned out to be hamburger and cheese soup or French Onion Soup.

I ordered a small cup of French onion soup for $7.00, and Dave ordered the corned beef sandwich with crispy French fries for $16.00. I was having such a good time that I decided to have a cocktail. 

I asked Gabby if they stocked the Famous Grouse, but she looked confused. Then I asked if the bar had Johnnie Walker Red, and she looked at her electronic tablet and said, "We have Johnnie Walker Black."

 

I should have known this was going to be an experience. I ended up agreeing to Glenmorangie 12. Gabby asked if I wanted a large, clear ice cube in my tumbler. I thought, "Oh boy, this will be expensive."

 

“Sure, load me up.”

Dave Blair  -  Gabby 

The Glenmorangie 12 was smooth—really a taste treat. The French onion soup was excellent. I would order the French onion again. Dave was happy with his sandwich. 

There were three other people in the place having lunch. It's a great place to meet if you want to talk. It’s brand new, quiet, clean and inviting. Prices are not that bad in today's inflationary market. 

Now, having said that I got the bill. My cocktail, a Glenmorangie 12-year-old, which was two ounces of Scotch with a large ice cube, was priced at $32.00. 

Now I know why they named this bar “DERAILED.”