Not everyone knew his real first name, or that he had a twin brother whose name played into his nickname “Melton.”
But those who knew Melvin “Melton” Lightfoot said they would never forget him and his legendary friendliness and customer service at the former Holiday Inn on Columbus’ west side, where he served as a “busser” for more than 38 years, continuing on when the facility became the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center.
Lightfoot, 67, died the day after Christmas at Columbus Regional Hospital after suffering from COVID-19 for about 10 days, leaving his family and co-workers grieving the loss of a customer service champion who never forgot the importance of a smile and exceeding a customer’s expectations.
His sister, Kathleen Anderson, said some people may be confused by the use of “Melvin” in his obituary because they have always known him as “Melton.” But actually, Anderson said, Melvin was his first name. “Melton” came from rhyming with his twin brother’s name Elton, who now lives in Indianapolis.
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“His mama named him Melvin and that’s what’s on his birth certificate,” his sister said, which led her to use his given name in his obituary.
But for those who remember Melton, it isn’t about the name, but the way he made those around him feel when he served them room service or cleared the dishes from the table at the Holiday Inn and later at the Clarion.
“He had this outgoing, bubbly personality,” his sister said. “He was a real people person. There were no strangers to him anywhere.”
Lightfoot lived on his own in Columbus, but was a Developmental Services Inc. client after moving to the city from Alabama in 1977. Anderson said her brother was “slow” about some things, and had a speech impediment, but did not let any disability stop him from pursuing a job. With the Opportunity Center’s help (the agency before DSI), he was hired at the Holiday Inn.
Alan Patterson, who worked with Lightfoot at the hotel, said he and Lightfoot “hit it off” immediately as coworkers, working in the hotel’s dining room and becoming favorites for several large groups who met there each year.
“He (Lightfoot) loved people,” Patterson said.
Chiquita Snyder, who met Lightfoot and Patterson when she started at the Holiday Inn as a server in 1991, grew close to both employees as she worked her way up to general manager.
“All those years, Melton worked so hard. He was one of the most hard-working people I ever worked with or supervised,” she said.
Acknowledging Melton’s communication skills were limited, he still tried to do everything he could to make sure customers were happy. Snyder said if he was having difficulty communicating to the customer, he would let others know that he needed help so the customer could get what was needed.
It was the way Melton presented himself to the public, smiling, being helpful, that made him approachable, Snyder said.
“He had a smile that could light up a room,” she said.
Debbie Caldwell met Melton when she joined the Holiday Inn staff in 1979 as a server, saying “he was right by my side for 39 years.”
Melton was the first employee who welcomed her to the facility and the two eventually bonded when Caldwell would pick him up to drive to work — preserving his ability to live on his own and travel to his job.
He loved kids and would hurry to get coloring books and crayons to youngsters who were seated in the dining room, she said.
“He was very self motivated and would do everything himself,” she said. “He was my buddy.”
Caldwell, who has since retired, said Melton didn’t want to quit working.
When the Clarion closed in 2017, Lightfoot retired for a bit, but then moved on to work at Columbus landmark Zaharakos downtown, an eatery and ice cream parlor.
“He would work circles around those young kids,” she said of his work ethic. “I had called him to check on him (during the pandemic) and I told him when all of this was over with, we would get together and do lunch, and he was excited about that.”
And it wasn’t just at The Clarion — Anderson said Lightfoot would ride CityBus downtown and walk the former Commons Mall where “everybody knew him.”
“We couldn’t go anywhere that someone wouldn’t know him,” she said. “He just loved going out and loved to be with people.”
In his spare time, Lightfoot liked to watch movies — any movies really, but his favorites were westerns, his sister said.
One of the proudest moments of Lightfoot’s life was receiving the 2015 Hoosier Hospitality Award for outstanding contributions to the tourism industry during a ceremony at the Indiana State Fair, Anderson said.
His nomination said Lightfoot displayed concern for each Clarion guest and multiple guests described him as the hotel’s hardest-working employee.
Lightfoot was among 20 hospitality employees who received the award from Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann, who is now president of Ivy Tech Community College.
“He was very proud to talk to the lieutenant governor,” his sister said.
At the time, Ellspermann praised the hospitality professionals as the “vibrant pulse that keeps the tourism industry alive and well in Indiana.” She described it as a great honor to present the awards to individuals such as Lightfoot.
His sister said it is unknown how Melton might have contracted the COVID-19 virus, although Caldwell speculated he may not have understood the danger of the virus.
“We just want to give God the praise that we had him as long as we did,” his sister said.
Caldwell said you could not have asked any more of a person with a disability who worked so hard every day.
“I’ll never forget him,” she said.
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The family of Melvin "Melton" Lightfoot will have calling at the Barkes Weaver and Glick Funeral Services downtown from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 4, followed by a semi-private funeral. Masks are required and there are limitations to the number of people allowed in the building at one time due to state COVID-19 executive orders.
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