George "I know we've got only one shot left" Carter
Carter and his father, Irving Carter, spearheaded the franchisee movement in 1985 that created Franchise Associates Incorporated (FAI). After Imperial Group had sold Howard Johnson's to Marriott, and Marriott had in turn sold the brand to Prime Motor Inns, the franchised Restaurants were to be phased out. Marriott rapidly converted or sold the 400+ company owned locations and Prime wanted nothing to do with food service. FAI was created with George Carter as its leader, and with remarkable effort he was able to wrest seed money, recipes, and the right to use the Howard Johnson name from both Marriott and Prime.

In 1986 the Carter hospitality empire was still substantial consisting of four HoJo's Restaurants, the Milford motor Lodge and other hospitality concerns. At first FAI made strides to enhance and revive Howard Johnson Restaurants--they even introduced the Canton prototype--but it was all much too little and too late to save the once great chain. Mr. Carter's last shot was a dud.

Although the Carter's Connecticut empire was still going strong by the middle 1990s, cracks had formed. Carter began to sell off the various properties that his father had so carefully cultivated since 1935. At least his dad, Irving R. Carter, never saw the end of his creation, for at the age of 89 he died on November 10, 1996.