LETTERS

REGISTRY REBUTTALS



I AM EXECUTIVE chef of the Registry Hotel, [and] I am shocked by some statements in the January article [“Hotel Hardball”] that were written about a true professional by the name of Charles W. Lanphere. I presume you interviewed Jack Ferrell, who said about Lanphere: “He came through beautifully. He was absolutely one of the most aggressive and hardest-working guys I’d ever seen.” The hotel business is not a one-man show; it’s a team effort. Some people make it; some people don’t. I, for one, feel we have an excellent management team and that the changes that were made were in the best interest of our hotel.

I came to the Registry from a very well-known and reputable hotel chain. This change I would not have made if it hadn’t been for Mr. Lanphere and the value it would give to my career to become part of the Registry Hotel. This value that I speak of is professional value, not monetary value.

I am one individual who has a great respect for this man. I hope someday you will know him and realize-like so many people throughout the country and in our hotel-that he is not the same person you wrote about in your article.

I was brought up in Europe, and I can tell you that the American way of working and achieving is the very best way. Lanphere stands for this hard work and achievement, and those people not strong enough to understand this shouldn’t be in the hotel business in the United States.

Henri A. Boubee

Executive Chef

The Dallas Registry



AS THE DIRECTOR of personnel at the Dallas Registry, I certainly support the operational changes that have occurred and feel they have definitely been in the Registry’s best interest. One wonders why [reporter Eric] Miller never attempted to talk to any of our excellent executives, or why he was hesitant to say anything positive about the significant accomplishments of the Registry and its staff. We seriously question the benefit and intent of this type of journalism. If he had talked to any of us, he certainly would have been told a very different and more positive story.

I strongly dispute the harsh personal comments made about Mr. Lanphere, who has demonstrated his concern for the personal and professional well-being of former employees. I have worked for other major hotels in my career and am certain that Mr. Lanphere works harder to motivate and compliment employees at all levels than any other chief executive officer I have worked with.

Mr. and Mrs. Lanphere and Mr. Thoele have given several hundred thousand dollars in the past year to many deserving charities because they believe and encourage all of us to give back to the community some of what we receive. We respect that they never ask to be identified as contributors, nor want any special recognition.

Lastly, receiving a five-star rating has never been our primary goal. It would be nice to achieve this, but I personally feel that there are several five-star hotels in this country that are not deserving of the rating. Our entire staff is trying to establish the Dallas Registry as one of the best luxury hotels in the world. If we are successful, the ratings will come automatically.

Sewell B. Pappas

Director of Personnel

The Dallas Registry



IN REFERENCE to the sidebar article [to “Hotel Hardball”] entitled “What Makes a Five-Star Hotel?,” I quote: “Scratched chairs, leaky faucets, low-budget paintings or unfriendly bellmen may be commonplace at a Holiday Inn or a Ramada, but in the world of the first-class hotel, they are unforgivable.”

To use Holiday Inn as a bad example shows no class on your part whatsoever. Have you visited the new Holiday Inn Brookhollow, Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza or even our new Holiday Inn in Paris, Texas?

In the past few years, Holiday Inns Inc. has made tremendous strides in upgrading product quality. “Scratched chairs, leaky faucets, low-budget paintings and unfriendly bellmen” are also unforgivable at Holiday Inns worldwide.

Lonnie Kennemer

Paris



OUR BEST (AND WORST) MOMENTS

YOUR BEST AND Worst list [January] called the final M*A*S*H episode “one of television’s finest moments.” Are you kidding? I’ve seen better Casper cartoons. I thought Dallas was trying to get away from its image as a place so culturally deprived and critically unaware that all an actor has to do to get a standing ovation in Big D is to show up. Then again, in the 111,753 hours of prime-time network programming since 1949, I suppose the M*A*S*H finale was among television’s 111,751 finest.

Jim Beaver

Los Angeles



IN A MARKET of mediocre, over-the-hill and overresearched radio stations, it is a pleasure to have Billy and Rose to add some sophomoric humor to an elitist, under-educated city whose only heritage seems to be the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Let’s take the silver spoon out of our mouths long enough to wish KIXK and Billy and Rose good luck in their uphill, underbud-geted fight for recognition among the conservative radio mush that permeates Dallas.

Ned CohenGrand Prairie



WELL, GIVE yourselves credit in keep-ing with your January “Best and Worst” theme:

EDITORIAL PERSPECTIVES

BEST: D Magazine’s inaugural selection of Ross Perot as Dallasite of the Year.

WORST: D Magazine’s placement of an intended prestigious recognition [of Perot] with back-of-the-book treatment over a daytime soap queen’s cover photograph that is supposed to have relevance to Dallas’ living highlights and lowlights of ’83.

Reid J. Barwick

Bedford



HERE’S AN ADDITION to your “Best and Worst” list:

ASSUMPTION BASED ON STEREOTYPE

WORST: Regan Dunnick’s illustration of Kevin Murray as a John David Crow look-alike. Kevin Murray is black.

Les Palmer

Arlington



UNDER THE heading of “Bad Altitude” in the “Best and Worst” article, a scenario of a downtown Hilton window washer is mentioned. However, the illustration that accompanies the article depicts the Hyatt Regency Dallas and Reunion Tower, not the Hilton.

Thomas R. Gaskill

Regional Vice President

Hyatt Regency Dallas



I NOTICED IN “Best and Worst” that you applauded the utilities for their donations to the needy. I didn’t see my name and many others who were asked to add extra money above [the amount of] their bills for this purpose (which I did). Give the credit where it’s due.

Kenneth E. Cody

Dallas



PLAUDITS FOR PEROT



THOREAU HAD an H. Ross Perot in mind when he wrote: “Any man more right than his neighbors constitutes a majority of one.” Congratulations to Perot, the first Dallasite of the Year [January] and to D for choosing him.

I don’t always agree with Perot’s politics, but no matter. In a nation of followers, it’s great to have a true leader to study… and to emulate.

Frank D. Repp Jr.

Dallas



CONGRATULATIONS to Ross Perot on being named Dallasite of the Year! But all these years I thought my husband, David Lake, was the best salesman IBM ever had.

Margaret Lake

Dallas



COMMISSIONER’S COMMENTS

REGARDING YOUR article entitled “Bully for Bullock” [“Inside Dallas,” January], I would like to point out an error. I can’t argue that Earl Bullock had a profitable first year as Dallas county clerk, with all proceeds benefiting the taxpayers of Dallas County. But whoever wrote that arguments in Commissioners Court meetings are common hasn’t attended one in some time. I welcome you to send a writer down at any time to watch civilized people do business.

Chris V. Semos

County Commissioner, District 4

Dallas