Chapter 11

I returned Ken Geel's call. He thought things were going well but it sounded to me like some of the people who resisted change had gotten his ear. He questioned continued support for the 'Long Island Project'.

I very pointedly said, "Ken, I'm glad you have made progress, but you must realize what you call the 'Long Island Project' isn't optional. I want our client base expanded to include other than very complex expensive projects.

"We will maintain the highest quality but we will be competitive in the less complex area also. That means some people will be upset that compensation will be based on value added. The associates trained by Becky Hall and Bill Henley will be assuming a greater role by providing financial services aid to less complex problems. I know it will be difficult to make the change in culture this project requires, but it is required.

"Terminate the employment of anyone who can't work within the structure I want in place. Consider bringing in Ed Schein to help you in carrying out the change. This is your opportunity to have a permanent place at Jenkins. I hope you are able to take advantage of the opportunity. Are we clear on what I expect?"

Ken said, "Very clear. As the only shareholder, you set the direction, I serve at your pleasure."

"Work with Becky Hall, and Bill Henley to develop a plan," I said. "Ed Schein can help in structuring things required to change the culture. I want to go over the plan when I return after my graduation here."

I am all in now. The summer should be interesting, especially if Libby and Beau work at the bank.

I talked with Brooke and Eunice. Eunice and Thornton were making sure all the detail were squared away for Brooke and Will's move to Summerdale. I told them about getting pinned to Pris and about the weekend.

Pris called collect. I told her about Will and that I'd talked with Eunice and Thornton. I asked about having a phone put in her room.

Pris said, "I checked last tonight. We can't have private phones in our rooms, but I can have a line put in the president's room and a plug in extension base in mine. We need to set a time to call, and I could plug in then or use it for long-distance calls. The deal is I can't keep it plugged in."

"How about nine-fifteen every weeknight?" I asked.

Pris said, "You can call on the floor phone until the new phone is put in. We have a three-minute limit on the floor phone and quiet hours are weekdays after nine. I got longer for tonight since the president knows we were just pinned. We have a candle lighting tonight. There are some girls waiting for the phone, so I need to get off."

I caught up with my transcriptions of class lectures and assigned reading. I really felt energized. I exercised and practiced the guitar before going to bed. One thing was a bit of a problem; my meals, especially breakfast, went way down in quality. I called Dorothy and asked if she could get the projected sites for the centers to me to take to Summerdale. Dorothy said, "Murphy will get that together for you. When do you need it?"

"I want to take it Wednesday when I go."

She asked, "We'll have it ready. Do you need me to go?"

I said, "I'm sure I'll need you to talk with Will later. That's more detail than he needs now. How is the dissertation going?"

Dorothy said, "What you asked for is the part that is done. My committee really likes the idea. I'll defend the proposal and have the orals in three weeks."

"We will hold off contacting you until after that. Break a leg. I know you will do well. You know I'm proud of you."

Tuesday evening, Thornton called, "Eunice just got back from the Register. The paper, TV station and radio stations are on target to meet their financial objectives. We're going to stay over a few days at Gulf Shores. To the important matter, I talked with Judge Hyder. He'll help us all he can, but most of it is a federal matter. Because it's federal, Judge Hyder thinks Will should stay away from banking or anything remotely SEC. Working in a law office is primarily a state matter, so he thinks it won't be a problem. He said that Will couldn't appear in court, but could work at an Alabama firm, under the direct supervision of a member of the bar. That would be me until the end of May, when you graduate and are admitted. I don't have a problem with Will working under my license. Judge Hyder liked the idea of Will working on community health centers and thought being an expert for the automation project would be fine. He said he thought it would take four to six years to get Will a federal pardon. He's not familiar with New York Bar readmission procedures. He gave me the outline the Presidential Pardon Commission uses. Will needs to go though each step. We need to structure his job and living arrangement to maximize his chances."

"That sounds good. How did it go with Colonel Mac?"

Thornton said, "He's more worried about how Brooke's father will fit in and the expansion of health care training. He's an old soldier. He will do as he's told, as long as you're the one telling him. To him, I'm just a dog-robber."

"You see a problem there?"

Thornton said, "Oh no. You know exactly where you stand with Mac. He won't be a problem at all. I agree with your assessment; I think it would be better for Brooke's parents to live off post. The bayhouse would work if they don't want to buy something. Bessie and Jan can arrange for help for Brooke with Nicole and William. Henley is ready to come back here, and it will take both projects to keep Will busy. Colonel Mac already had the golf course designated as a recreational area, and the bayhouse can be the father-in-law office, so Will will be able to play golf and visit at the bayhouse, as long as he's back at Summerdale to sleep. Mrs. Johnson can be involved in the country club and women's club activities in Fairhope, which Judge Hyder's wife will facilitate. Mac's sergeant-major is already a special Federal Marshall to deal with Summerdale federal confinees. That more than satisfies the prison bureau and the Eglin people."

I asked, "Any problems you foresee?"

Thornton said, "Keeping Will away from trading is probably the most difficult, but something always comes up. I'm sure we can take care of it."

I asked, "Any problems with Brooke or her father?"

"Dr. Johnson's really excited about this project. I think you lucked out there. I think you need another eye on Will. Brooke would have a hard time reporting him."

I said, "Henley and Leon; Leon should be the point man on the health care project anyway."

Thornton said, "That would work. You could trust both of them."

I said, "Figure a way for Bill Jensen to be involved."

Thornton asked, "Anything else?"

"You did your usual fine job. Take a few days off and go to the beach with Eunice and the kids. Bessie and Jan can find help to take care of your kids. Take Eunice to stay at the Grand Hotel and have some meals there. We have an account there."

Thornton said, "We'll leave our numbers with the service. A First National pilot is bringing the papers to you tonight."

I arranged for a First National plane and pilot to take me to Eglin. I called Leon, and he was excited that approval had been given for him to take on the nursing homes and medical center project. Bill Jensen would be his assistant and monitor Will.

I read as I was flown to Eglin. Brooke and her father met us at the airport. I hugged Brooke, then said to her dad, "It's good to see you again, Dr. Johnson."

"I've told you to call me Erik. I think this will be a major project."

I said, "I've got you some good help. Leon Cowling is a friend, a retired Special Forces medic, who went through an RN, BSN with a certificate as a Nursing Home Administrator, and graduated from the Nurse Practitioner Program at Columbia. I thought he could be the administrator. Mrs. Johnson made me promise you'd get all the help you need. Dorothy Smith, who is the Executive Vice-President for Property Management at First National, is doing her dissertation on the economic issues related to the project. She's prepared a listing of property all across the state that First National owns and that are zoned for medical center/nursing home use. She has contracted for a study of the Hill-Burton financing aspects, and that's underway. She has a general contractor and people with construction experience who report to her. You and Will add the medical and financial pieces to the puzzle. We have nursing, nursing home administration, property, construction, and training pieces in place. If we can show it's viable, Hill-Burton will provide financing; if there are too many government entanglement issues, Jenkins Bank will issue bonds to finance it. Will can tell you what needs to be done there, though he can't be directly involved. Thornton is taking care of any last minute changes that Washington wants. I think we have everything covered, but you never know."

Dr. Johnson said, "You've done a lot of work on this. This isn't the first time you've thought of it."

"We have Will's situation worked out, also. He will work on your project and on a law office automation project. He must not be involved in any banking or securities matters. Colonel MacMillan has signed off on having Will at Summerdale and working with you to make the project work. Bill Jensen will be Leon's assistant, and Bill Henley will work with Will on the law office automation project. A person on the Colonel's staff is a sworn federal justice officer. We have a house for Will, Brooke and the children at Summerdale. We have all the office space you will need for you, including expanded medical training facilities and administrative space. We have a golf course already designated which is allowable and paid for Summerdale staff to use, and Will can visit you at the bayhouse or wherever your home office will be located. He will be restricted to sleeping at Summerdale. The Chief Judge of the Alabama Circuit Court for Baldwin County will enroll Will in a state program that will supervise him and provide help should we attempt to get him a pardon in a few years. The backup would be for Will to be allowed to take the Alabama Bar in a couple of years, but we don't think that will be necessary. Will only needs to commit until July 2^nd. The project is funded, and you will be paid by Summerdale."

Brooke said, "It sounds so good, I could kiss you. What do you think Dad?"

Dr. Johnson said, "It sounds ideal for a lot of reasons. It's very close to your original plan. With all the federal organizations involved, I'm surprised you didn't have to make more changes."

Brooke said, "I think Mom will love the house. It's on the bay, next to the Grand Hotel. Rob's help is excellent there, and he has people who can help take care of Nicole and William. I didn't expect the golf course would be approved. I know Will will love that."

"Any changes you want before we see Will? I want a package that's a take-it-or-leave-it deal for Will."

Dr. Johnson said, "That's a lot to do in five months."

I said, "Will is only committed for five months. He could stay on, but I think in five months, you should have a structure and plan in place. I hope you will stay on afterward. Leon will for sure."

He said, "That will depend on what her mother thinks, and how the project goes. I could see being involved in some capacity for a long time."

"Leon will be the administrator, you will be the medical director, and I will be the board chairman. Will will serve as the administrative consultant. Brooke will retain her position at St. Joe until Will is released."

Brooke went to talk with Will before her father and I went over. She took the papers Thornton had prepared after he had gotten Judge Hyder's advice.

We rode over to the Eglin FPC. Will hugged us. "Thank you so much. I promise to be on my best behavior. The projects are a bit different level than raking sand traps."