We had an accountant that worked for use for several years. Previously GK Worley had worked for a wealthy fellow over in Rockdale for a good many years. GK told me the following story.

Pete Coffield, the wealthy gentleman built a new much needed motel in Rockdale many years ago. He had Whitey, his black driver, drive to the nearest town with a Holiday Inn Motel in it and take pictures of their sign.

Then he took the photo to a local sign guy to build some signs for his new motel. Not wanting to copy it exactly, he had them delete the Inn, calling his the Holiday Motel.

Right after the Grand Opening they received a Cease and Desist Letter from a high powered Law Firm instructing them to immediately take those signs down and change the name of their motel.

Mr. Coffield said, “I don’t know how they think we are copying their sign? “

They ended up renaming their business, to something like Rockdale Motel. But being hardheaded he continued to keep the signs as they were, only changing the wording.

I guess Holiday Inn and their Lawyers decided to let it go. They probably figured out that old fellow had more money than Holiday Inn did at that time.