Business Services, Inc., dba Ding-a-Ling Answering Service of Palm Beach, turned out to be one of the best investments I ever made. Frank Brooks and I have never had an argu- ment, and our families have grown close. All of his kids ended up working there, just as all of mine ended up working for me. We both achieved the dream of family-run businesses. Throughout the legal battles, I had a single mantra, “They were going to pay to get in this business one way or another.” There were some very harrowing moments, but in the end, it all worked out in our favor. Many years later, Frank Brooks was diag- nosed with cancer. He was in his 80’s. The cancer was terminal, but he would not accept the diagnosis. One doctor offered him a solu- tion with a single caveat. He said the treatment would cure his cancer, but at the same time, it would ruin his kidneys. Frank agreed and just as predicted the cancer was cured. Frank started kidney dialysis immediately after the treatment. He got back on his feet, able to keep exercising, including the strenu- ous sport of handball. That was his routine for years. He registered on the waiting list for a kidney transplant but had little hope of getting one due to his age. In 2013, his son, Jeff, donat- ed a kidney to his father. Today, Frank is free of cancer and also free of dialysis. It is truly a miracle. Jeff is doing well, too.
Frank and Jeff Brooks
SELF RELIANT TO A FAULT
Herman Shooster - 1976, our original office was located in the town of Coral Ridge, just north of Fort Lauderdale and a short ride to the beach. Frank Brooks liked to ride his bike there, so he installed a shower in the office to freshen up. The office was very small, about the size of a double trailer. It was located in the back of the building. Every little bit of space was important. I did not need that shower, so I decided to remove it. With the help of my son, Mike, I decided we could remove it ourselves. We picked up an Acetylene torch. Before we began, my wife said, “Why don’t you hire a plumber?,” and I said, “What do you know?” That’s when our manager, Lois, overheard me and decided to stay quiet. Mike and I began to heat up the part we wanted removed, but being inexpe- rienced we failed to turn off the water, a big mistake. When we heated one side of the pipe the heat transferred to the other side eventu- ally breaking the seal and spilling a flood of water out ahead of the valve with no way to turn it off! Water quickly started to flood our entire office. It was an emergency. We called the fire
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Congratulations Frank Brooks and Herman Shooster Company Picnic
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