THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 1, 1995 TAG: 9509290179
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Mr Roberts' Neighborhood
SOURCE: Frank Roberts
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
There were 33 Richard Whites, 30 Douglas Scotts, 17 Roland Glassers.
Dick, the best man at my wedding, was my out-of-school best friend; Roland, my in-school best friend; and Doug, my closest friend during my Army days.
For several years, I'd thought of offering someone my eyeteeth to help me catch up with at least one of them. Finally, I contacted Jim Laux of St. Louis, who runs a company called ``Find People Fast.''
Actually, you find the people; he supplies the leads. He provided a list of Roland Glassers - in Nebraska, Florida, Kentucky, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York. I remembered my friend's middle initial, M, and there was only one on the list.
I dialed the number and spoke to Roland's wife, who told me Roland had died about seven years ago in a skiing accident in Europe. We recounted many memories - a beautiful conversation, but sad because I'd waited so long to try to reach him.
In school, we'd been inseparable. In pretend anger, I growled at him when he mussed my hair, and he gave me dirty looks when I called him Rollo. For the most part, we laughed a lot.
As for Dick White, I knew he lived in Staten Island and believed he was still in New York. But the list was a bit much: 33 names. I'm considering a form letter.
Maybe I'll use the same approach to reach Doug Scott. He is from Seattle. There are 30 Doug Scotts listed in Washington, but none in Seattle.
When I was living in Iowa, my best friend was Jim Smith. I didn't even ask for that list.
In the four years since he and a partner have been in business, Laux has done about 30,000 searches and reunited about 20,000 parties.
Many are veterans, usually of World War II.
``About 80 percent of the time, I can supply a list of the name. A last known address is a help. A Social Security number, a big help.''
Find People Fast charges $29 per name search, $25 if you have the Social Security number.
Laux gets names, addresses and phone numbers from computer lists, phone directories, mailing lists, magazine subscription lists and - permissible in some states - motor vehicle lists.
Laux got into this business because he utilized it.
``I was born in England and was adopted,'' he said. ``I looked for my birth parents, made hundreds of phone calls. I found my mom in England, then I found my American dad. I felt a number of people were looking for someone.''
Laux broadcasts dramatic success stories over 300 radio stations, none in Hampton Roads.
Find People Fast also finds surnames for genealogical researchers, does Social Security number searches, checks changes of address, supplies information about neighbors, provides names and addresses to match phone numbers and even searches the Social Security Death Master List.
It also can do a drivers license record search, giving you the name and address of the owner of a vehicle if you have the license or registration number.
Find People Fast searches for businesses, corporations and offers company profiles.
Now, if only it could link me up with Dick White, Doug Scott and even Jim Smith.There were 33 Richard Whites, 30 Douglas Scotts, 17 Roland Glassers. MEMO: To contact Find People Fast, call 1-800-829-1807.
by CNB